![Associate Professor Karen Hughes](/sites/default/files/profiles/1528.png)
Overview
Background
Associate Professor Karen Hughes lectures at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the areas of sustainable tourism and visitor management. Her research interests include interpretation and environmental education, wildlife tourism, heritage tourism, visitor behaviour and sustainable tourism. She is particularly interested in exploring how interpretation can be used across a range of contexts to attract, engage and inspire visitors.
Karen’s PhD studies focused on designing and evaluating the impact of support materials on families’ adoption of environmental behaviours following a visit to Mon Repos turtle rookery. She has also explored public responses to environmental campaigns, public perceptions of replica sites as conservation tools, and the potential use of technology in connecting with new visitor audiences. Her most recent work involves designing and evaluating the impact of values-based interpretation on visitors’ long-term environmental behaviour. Karen has supervised four PhD students, three Masters students and two honours students to completion in the areas of interpretation, experience design and environmental behaviour change. Associate Professor Hughes has also been a lecturer and researcher at James Cook University, Charles Darwin University and Queensland University of Technology.
Availability
- Associate Professor Karen Hughes is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, James Cook University
- Masters (Coursework), James Cook University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Interpretation, Environmental Education and Ecotourism
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Conservation learning in zoos and wildlife tourism settings
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Pedagogies and partnerships in Outdoor and Environmental Education Centres
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Raising community awareness of safe cycling and pedestrian practices
Works
Search Professor Karen Hughes’s works on UQ eSpace
2009
Journal Article
Meeting the needs of tourists: The role and function of Australian visitor information centers
Ballantyne, Roy, Hughes, Karen and Ritchie, Brent W. (2009). Meeting the needs of tourists: The role and function of Australian visitor information centers. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 26 (8), 778-794. doi: 10.1080/10548400903356178
2009
Other Outputs
Using wildlife tourism and post-visit support to enhance families’ conservation learning at Mon Repos Conservation Park
Hughes, Karen (2009). Using wildlife tourism and post-visit support to enhance families’ conservation learning at Mon Repos Conservation Park. PhD Thesis, School of Tourism, The University of Queensland.
2008
Book
Tourists' use of roadside signage: A case study of the Great Southern Touring Route
Ballantyne, R., Hughes, K., Weiler, B. and Moscardo, G. (2008). Tourists' use of roadside signage: A case study of the Great Southern Touring Route. Gold Coast, Australia: Sustainable Tourism CRC.
2007
Book
Meeting visitor needs: a handbook for managers and staff of visitor information centres
Ballantyne, Roy, Hughes, Karen, Deery, Marg and Bond, Nigel (2007). Meeting visitor needs: a handbook for managers and staff of visitor information centres. Gold Coast, Qld Australia: Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre.
2007
Book
Designing interpretive signs: Principles in practice
Moscardo, Gianna, Ballantyne, Roy and Hughes, Karen (2007). Designing interpretive signs: Principles in practice. Golden, Colorado, USA: Fulcrum Publishing.
2006
Journal Article
Working with animals and children: The challenges of visitor research in wildlife tourism
Hughes, Karen, Ballantyne, Roy and Packer, Jan (2006). Working with animals and children: The challenges of visitor research in wildlife tourism. Visitor Studies Today, 9 (3), 27-29.
2005
Journal Article
Between the flags: an assessment of domestic and international university students' knowledge of beach safety in Australia
Ballantyne, Roy, Carr, Neil and Hughes, Karen (2005). Between the flags: an assessment of domestic and international university students' knowledge of beach safety in Australia. Tourism Management, 26 (4), 617-622. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2004.02.016
2004
Other Outputs
E-learning in Queensland visitor information centres: Barriers, facilitators and communities of practice
Ballantyne, R. and Hughes, K. (2004). E-learning in Queensland visitor information centres: Barriers, facilitators and communities of practice. Canberra, Australia: Department of Education, Science and Training.
2003
Journal Article
Measure twice, cut once: developing a research-based interpretive signs checklist
Ballantyne, R. and Hughes, K. (2003). Measure twice, cut once: developing a research-based interpretive signs checklist. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 19, 15-25.
2003
Conference Publication
Interpretive signs - talking to visitors through text
Moscardo, G., Ballantyne, R. and Hughes, K. (2003). Interpretive signs - talking to visitors through text. Current research - future strategies, bridging uncertainty : Asia Pacific Tourism Association 9th Annual Conference, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 6-9 July, 2003. Sydney: University of Technology Sydney.
2002
Book
Implementing Peer Assessment in Large Classes: Procedures to Facilitate Student Learning
Ballantyne, R., Hughes, K. and Mylonas, A. (2002). Implementing Peer Assessment in Large Classes: Procedures to Facilitate Student Learning. Centre for Professional Practice in Education and Training, Faculty of Education, Queensland University of Technology: Kelvin Grove, Qld.
2002
Journal Article
Developing procedures for implementing peer assessment in large classes using an action research process
Ballantyne, Roy, Hughes, Karen and Mylonas, Aliisa (2002). Developing procedures for implementing peer assessment in large classes using an action research process. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 27 (5), 427-441. doi: 10.1080/0260293022000009302
2001
Journal Article
Interpretation in ecotourism settings: investigating tour guides' perceptions of their role, responsibilities and training needs
Ballantyne, Roy and Hughes, Karen (2001). Interpretation in ecotourism settings: investigating tour guides' perceptions of their role, responsibilities and training needs. Journal of Tourism Studies, 12 (2), 2-9.
2000
Journal Article
The gaze, spectacle and ecotourism
Ryan, Chris, Hughes, Karen and Chirgwin, Sharon (2000). The gaze, spectacle and ecotourism. The Annals of Tourism Research, 27 (1), 148-163. doi: 10.1016/S0160-7383(99)00061-4
1997
Journal Article
Ecotourism: the participants' perceptions
Chirgwin, Sharon and Hughes, Karen (1997). Ecotourism: the participants' perceptions. The Journal of Tourism Studies, 8 (2), 2-7.
1992
Journal Article
Climbing Ayers Rock: relating visitor motivation, time perception and enjoyment
Fielding, K., Pearce, P. and Hughes, K. (1992). Climbing Ayers Rock: relating visitor motivation, time perception and enjoyment. Journal of Tourism Studies, 3 (2), 49-57.
1991
Journal Article
Tourist satisfaction: a guided "cultural" tour in North Queensland
Hughes, Karen (1991). Tourist satisfaction: a guided "cultural" tour in North Queensland. Australian Psychologist, 26 (3), 166-171. doi: 10.1080/00050069108257243
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Karen Hughes is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
From the brink of extinction: Exploring the role of replicas in managing the negative impacts of tourism at fragile heritage sites
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mucha Mkono
Completed supervision
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Chinese tourists' landscape perceptions and meaning making at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mucha Mkono, Associate Professor Gabby Walters
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Essays exploring methods of increasing individuals uptake of conservation behaviour to help protect the Great Barrier Reef
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gabby Walters
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Fake it to Make it: Exploring Instagram Users' Engagement with Virtual Influencers in Tourism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Magor, Professor Pierre Benckendorff
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of cultural values on the environmental attitudes and behaviours of Chinese outbound tourists
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Pierre Benckendorff
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Factors that influence engagement in on-site environmentally responsible behaviours at music festivals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jan Packer, Associate Professor Sheranne Fairley
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring Interpretive Experiences at an Omani Heritage Site: Insider-Outsider Visitor Perspectives
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
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