Research areas

Research Areas

Accessible Tourism

I have been actively researching the area of accessible tourism for over a decade now. Accessible tourism, barrier-free tourism, tourism for all are all terms often used interchangeably. At its core, accessible tourism is inclusive, requiring access for all people, regardless of shape or size. My research focus is on the needs of travellers with disabilities on the one hand, and on the opportunities and challenges encountered by tourism and hospitality suppliers on the other. Of particular interest is the generation, presentation, dissemination and management of accessibility information through various technology platforms.

Read sample publications on the topic

Rubio-Escuderos, L., Andreu, H., Michopoulou, E. and Buhalis, D. (2021) ‘Perspectives on Experiences of Tourists With Disabilities: Implications For Their Daily Lives And For The Tourist Industry’, Tourism Recreation Research

Michopoulou, E. and Hilton, S. (2021). “Accessibility to Spa Experiences”. In Eusébio, C., Teixeira, & L., Carneiro, M.J. (eds.), ICT Tools and Applications for Accessible Tourism, Hershey, PA: IGI Global

Karadimitriou, C., Kyriakaki, A., and Michopoulou, E. (2021) ‘Accessible Tourism as a Transformational Force for Tourism and Hospitality’. In Pappas, N. and Farmaki, A. (eds) Emerging Transformations in Tourism and Hospitality, Routledge

Michopoulou, E. Darcy, S. Ambrosse, I. and Buhalis, D. (2015) ‘The world we dream to live in and the opportunities we hope to have’, Journal of Tourism Futures, Vol. 1, (3), pp. 179-188

Technology Acceptance and eTourism

What makes us use a particular technology over another? Why do we decide to adopt some technologies, but reject others? Exploring human-computer interaction is fascinating. To understand and predict technology acceptance, we need to understand humans first. We all have different needs and requirements that determine our willingness to engage with technology. So, to develop and design applications that are useful, easy, and fun to use, we need to understand our target users and their needs. Once their key decision-making factors are identified, then they can inform any technology development; be it websites, mobile apps or social media.

Read sample publications on the topic

Pappas, N., Caputo, A., Pellegrini, M.M., Marzi, G., and Michopoulou, E. (2021) The complexity of decision-making processes and IoT adoption in accommodation SMEs, Journal of Business Research, Vol. 131, pp 573-583 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.01.010

Michopoulou, E. and Moisa, D. (2018) Hotel Social Media Metrics: The ROI Dilemma, International Journal of Hospitality Management (in print)

Michopoulou, E. and Moira, D. (2016). “The Role of Culture on Online Search Behaviour: A Comparative Study between British and Chinese Travellers”. In Inversini, A., and Schegg, R. (eds.) Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism. ENTER 2016. Proceedings of the 23th International Conference in Bilbao, Spain, Vienna-New York: Springer.

Enter, N. and Michopoulou, E. (2013). An investigation on the Acceptance of Facebook by Travellers for Travel Planning, e-Review of Tourism Research (e-RTR), ENTER 2013 Special Issue, Short Papers, Vol. 4

Michopoulou, E., and Buhalis, D. (2008) Performance Measures of Net-Enabled Hypercompetitive Industries: The Case of Tourism, International Journal of Information and Management, Vol. 28, (3), pp. 168-180

Wellness Tourism

The quest for wellness has been gaining momentum over the past few years. Travellers are now seeking more than a spa treatment to relax. They are looking for unique and authentic experiences that have deep and meaningful impact. It is one thing to unplug; and quite another to really disconnect and reconnect to self and others. Yet, elusive questions remain. Who are these wellness travellers? What do they want? Could wearable technology (i.e health tracking wristbands) even enhance a wellness experience?

Read sample publications on the topic

Stevens, F., Azara, I., and Michopoulou, E. (2018) Local Community Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Thermalism, International Journal of Spa and Wellness, Vol. 1, pp. 55-68

Michopoulou, E., Kudrakova, V. Azara, I. (2016) Suppliers’ Perspectives on the Affordability of Wellness Services. Proceedings of EuroCHRIE Conference 2016, in Budapest, Hungary.

Hood, A. and Michopoulou, E. (2015) 'Shifting dymanics, response over function', report on the roundtable event by University of Derby and the Global Wellness Institute.

Report on the 'Senior Tourism Leaders Roundtable' (2015) event, at the World Travel Market hosted by the Global Wellness Institute