Staff
Dr Babalwa Mgxekwa-Qumba
Lecturer 0183892527 25871854@nwu.ac.za Base Building, Block A2H, G13, MahikengND, B-Tech, MA, PhD
Cultural heritage tourism, tourist experiences, willingness to pay, authenticity, memorable experiences, economic valuation, Liberation cultural heritage sites.
Dr Zandivuta Kankhuni
Post-doctoral Fellow 018 285 2511 kankhuni.z@mzuni.ac.mwPhD Hotel and Tourism Management; Master of Management (Tourism Management); BSc Hospitality Management
Destination marketing; Tourist behaviour; Tourism education
Mr Tommy Pietersen
Researcher 018 299 4875 Tommy.Pietersen@nwu.ac.zaBCom Tourism and Economics
Hons International Trade
MCom International Trade
PhD Student – Economics (Tourism Economics)
Prof. Tafadzwa Matiza
Researcher 018 285 2511 Tafadzwa.Matiza@nwu.ac.zaPhD (NMU), MCom (UL), Btech (Hons) (CUT, Zim)
Nation branding and consumer behaviour in tourism
Prof. Saskia de Klerk
Research Fellow +61 432428076 sdeklerk@usc.edu.auPhD, M.Com, B.Com Hons, B.Com
Entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation and sustainability
Dr Phatshimo Metsi
Researcher 018 389 2415 Phatshimo.Metsi@nwu.ac.zaBA, BA Hons, MA, PHD
Event management, Community-based tourism, Tourist behaviour
Mrs Michelle du Preez
Administrative and Marketing Officer 018 285 2331 michelle.dupreez@nwu.ac.zaMCom and Hons in Tourism Management, BCom in Marketing and Tourism Management
Dr Michael Chambwe
Post-doctoral Fellow 018 389 2373 Michael.Chambwe@nwu.ac.zaPhD, MCom, BCom (Hons)
Tourism communities and sustainability
Prof. Juan-Carlos Martin
Research Fellow +34 928 45 8189 jcarlos.martin@ulpgc.esPhD. in Economics
Quantitative methods and fuzzy logic multicriteria
Dr Elisha Woyo
Research Scientist +44 161 247 2000 E.Woyo@mmu.ac.ukPhD, MSc Strategic Marketing; BTech Hons
Sustainable tourism, place branding and placemaking, tourism entrepreneurship, gender and disability, and inclusive development in African and Global South contexts.
Ms Dineo Tsatsimpe
Researcher 018 389 2439 Dineo.Tsatsimpe@nwu.ac.zaB. Soc Science, BA Honours, M. Soc Science
Community Based Tourism
Prof. Concepcion Roman
Research Fellow +34 928 45 17 96 concepcion.roman@ulpgc.esPhD in Economics
Demand analysis and discrete choice experiments
Dr Corné Engelbrecht
Researcher 018 389 2303 Corne.Engelbrecht@nwu.ac.zaBCom, BCom Hons, MCom, PhD in Tourism Management; and PGDip in Higher Education
A quantitative researcher specialising in festivals, events, and smart tourism
Prof. Adam Viljoen
Senior Reseacher 018 285 2389 Adam.Viljoen@nwu.ac.zaPhD in Tourism Management
Tourism Experiences and Niche Tourism
Dr Aaron Tkaczynski
Research Fellow +61 7 3365 1111 a.tkaczynski@uq.edu.au St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia,PhD (USQ), Bachelor of Business (Honorus) (QUT)
Market segmentation, tourism, events
Dr Michael Chambwe
Post-Doctoral Researcher (018) 389 2373 Michael.Chambwe@nwu.ac.za Building A2D, Office G42, MahikengPhD
Tourism communities and sustainability
Dr Madeline Huyser
Lecturer +27 18 299 4219 21086443@nwu.ac.za Building E3, Room 220, PotchefstroomBSc, BSc hons, MSc, PhD
Ecotourism, environmental sciences and management, environmental psychology
Dr Bianca Manners
Senior Lecturer +27 18 299 1497 20652445@nwu.ac.za Building E3, Room 225, PotchefstroomBA, BA Hons, MA, PhD
Events management, Tourism management, critical success factors, motivational aspects
Dr Ncedo Ntloko
Senior Lecturer +27 18 389 2806 ncedo.ntloko@nwu.ac.za Base Building, Block A2H, Room G15, MahikengND, HDHET, BTech, BA Hons, MTech, PhD
Tourism Development, tourism management, sport tourism, events
Dr Walter Wessels
Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader +27 18 389 2041 20082657@nwu.ac.za Building A2, Block H, Room G10, MahikengBA, BA Hons, MA, PhD
Tourism development, tourism management, purchase behaviour.
Prof Lisebo Tseane-Gumbi
Deputy Director +27 18 389 2844 Lisebo.tseanegumbi@nwu.ac.za Base building, Block A2H, Room 11 , MahikengPhD
Tourism development, marketing, management research
Prof Esmarie Myburgh
Senior Lecturer +27 18 299 1401 21704724@nwu.ac.za Building E3, Room 222, PotchefstroomBcom, Hons, MCom, PhD
Sport tourism, sport event management and marketing and sport tourism commitmentEsmarie Myburgh obtained her BCom Communication Management degree in 2012. In the same year, she commenced with her BCom Tourism Management honours degree and was appointed as a Tourism honours assistant. She obtained her honours degree in 2013 (cum laude); in the same year, she began with her MCom Tourism Management degree and was appointed as a Tourism research assistant. She received her MCom Tourism Management degree in 2014 (cum laude) and in the same year she registered for her PhD in Tourism Management, which is titled, Developing a commitment framework for sport tourism in South Africa. She has written several research reports under the supervision of Prof Elmarie Slabbert and assisted in compiling the 2013 Southern African Institute of Management Scientists (SAIMS) conference proceedings. Esmarie has published various articles in accredited, national and international academic journals, and has presented papers at national and international conferences. In 2017, she was awarded the Second Best Paper at the ISCONTOUR Postgraduate Student Conference in Salzburg, Austria. In the same year, she is nominated by the NRF in the category Research Excellence of Next Generation Researcher. In the second year that Esmarie registered for her PhD, she started working as temporary lecturer in the School of Business Management at the North-West University. In July of 2017, she was appointed as a lecturer at the School of Tourism Management. In her short working career at the NWU, Esmarie has lectured four undergraduate modules, supervised six post-graduate honours students’ mini-dissertations, and acted as faculty advisor of the student committee Excursio. Esmarie forms part of the EU-funded project Green Bubbles, which focuses on sustainable scuba-diving in Europe. She aims to apply her PhD framework on scuba-divers that form part of the project. In 2015, she received the Vice-chancellor’s Medal as the best master’s degree student at the North-West University in the category Commerce. In the same year, she receives the award for best post-graduate published journal article from the research unit TREES. She furthermore has received the awards for the best magister student and honours student in Tourism Management as well as best magister student in the School of Business Management. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honours Society for outstanding academic achievement.
Prof Lindie du Plessis
Executive Director +27 18 285 2194 Lindie.duPlessis@nwu.ac.za Building E3, Room 230, PotchefstroomBCom, Hons, MCom, PhD
Tourism ManagementLindie du Plessis specialises in tourism competitiveness and management issues. She is dedicated to the development of her students and follows an innovative approach towards class presentations by integrating blended learning. Prof Du Plessis has been dynamically involved in the industry by assisting in various tourism projects, such as the development of training material for DEAT (Department of Environment and Tourism) as well as NYDA (National Youth Development Agency). She is accredited with CATHSSETA (previously known as THETA) as an assessor, facilitator, coach, mentor, developer and designer. Prof Du Plessis has also received funding from the NRF as part of the Thuthuka project and two KIC grants to further foster industry relationships and research. She has co-written a book for the game farm industry called: Hunting and game farm tourism (2013), which is also being used by students as the textbook for TMBP321. She has been responsible for eight chapters in various tourism textbooks. She has successfully delivered master’s- and PhD-degree students as supervisor or promoter and is still involved with various post-graduate students. She has published more than 20 accredited articles. She has acted on the editorial board for the Journal of Revenue and Pricing and was a panel member for the National Department of Tourism. She is also a member of the AIEST (International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism) and The Southern African Institute for Management Scientists. She is passionate about the tourism industry and acts as guardian for Tourism honours students in community projects to organise events for charity on an annual basis. She also qualified herself as an adventure guide, tour guide, advanced lifesaver, 4x4 advanced driver and guide.
Prof Andrea Saayman
Professor 018 299 1443 Andrea.Saayman@nwu.ac.za Building E3, Room 108, PotchefstroomPhD Economics
Mrs Hanneri Borstlap
Senior Administrative Assistant +27 18 285 2331 Hanneri.Borstlap@nwu.ac.za Building E3; 234, PotchefstroomMA (Tourism Management), Hons, BA (Communication)
Prof Elmarie Slabbert
Director: TREES Research Unit +27 18 299 1806 Elmarie.Slabbert@nwu.ac.za E3 Room 223, PotchefstroomPhD
Prof Elmarie Slabbert is a professor in Tourism Management at the School of Tourism Management, North-West University (South Africa). She completed her PhD in 2005 and is currently one of the senior researchers at TREES, focusing on travel behaviour, the socio-cultural impact of tourism and marketing issues. Elmarie is the chairperson of the Southern African Institute for Management Scientists and deputy-chairperson of the Tourism Educators of South Africa. She has authored and co-authored 37 peer-reviewed articles, eight accredited conference proceedings and, since 2005, 34 master’s students and 19 doctorate students have completed their studies with success under her guidance. She is currently serving on the Research Forum of the Minister of Tourism. In 2013, she was the second runner-up for the Women in Science Award by the Department of Science and Technology. Over the last five years, she formed part of the top 20% of the North-West University, receiving the top achiever award.
Prof Peet van der Merwe
Professor +27 18 299 1812 Peet.VanderMerwe@nwu.ac.za Building E3, Room 226, PotchefstroomBA, BA Hons, Masters and PhD
Wildlife tourism, ecotourism, natural area tourism, sustainable tourism and marine tourismPeet van der Merwe is currently a senior lecturer and researcher in Tourism Management at the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, School of Tourism Management. He obtained his degree in Recreation and Tourism Management in 1994, honours degree in 1995 and master’s degree in 2000 from the North-West University. He completed his PhD in 2004 in Tourism Management, was promoted to associate professor in 2010 and full professor in 2014. Peet received his NRF (C3) rating as a researcher in 2016. He also applied successfully for numerous NRF funding for projects, with the most recent focusing on land-use models for the private wildlife industry. As a researcher, he forms part of the NRF research unit TREES (Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society) and currently lectures Game Farm Management to third-year students, and Ecotourism at honours level.
Peet’s field of expertise lies within wildlife tourism, hunting tourism, ecotourism (sustainable tourism) and marine tourism. Research outputs are as follows: Peer-reviewed publications (47), Popular articles (28), Projects (41), Research reports (35), Books (4), Chapters in books (5), Magister and PhD students completed (19), conferences attended (international and national) (54) and International guest lectures (3).
Prof Karin Botha
Professor +27 18 299 4219 Karin.Botha@nwu.ac.za Building E3, Room 224, PotchefstroomPhD, MCom, Hons, BCom
Events marketing, consumer/purchase behaviour.Karin Botha is a Professor in Tourism Management in the School for Tourism Management at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). She obtained her degree in Tourism Management and Psychology in 2003; followed by her honours degree in 2004, MCom in 2009 and PhD in 2012; all in Tourism Management. As researcher in the entity TREES (Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society), Karin’s special interest and research expertise focus on events marketing; specifically, in the area of consumer behaviour and consumer profiling at arts, culture and culinary events. Karin has been involved with various research projects/surveys, especially relating to the South African festivals and events industry. She has published national and international articles in peer-reviewed academic journals and accredited conference proceedings within this field, and has presented these research findings at conferences in South Africa and abroad. She is actively involved as study leader for post-graduate students, examiner of master’s and PhD students, and regularly reviews articles/papers for academic journals and conferences. Karin has contributed to chapters in peer-reviewed tourism textbooks and is involved with the development of learning material for Tourism subjects at the University. She was awarded her Y2 rating as researcher by the National Research Foundation (NRF) in 2018.She further received an Institutional Excellence in Teaching Award (ITEA) in the highest category (A-grading) from the University in 2008 and in 2012, as well as two best paper awards at international academic conferences. She is also a member of the Golden Key International Society and the Southern Africa Institute for Management Scientists (SAIMS).
Prof Pierre-André Viviers
Professor +27 18 299 1805 PierreAndre.Viviers@nwu.ac.za Building E3, Room 227, PotchefstroomPhD, MCom, BCom Hons, BCom.
Pierre-André Viviers is an associate professor at the North-West University (NWU), Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. He obtained his BCom Tourism degree in 2000 and his BCom Honours degree in Tourism Management in 2001. His master’s degree was completed in 2006. He completed his PhD in 2010, which was titled: Measuring community perceptions: An instrument for sustaining festivals. During his academic career of 16 years at the North-West University, he has been awarded numerous accolades, namely an (A grading) ITOU award for training excellence from the North-West University in 2007 and 2013. He received the Golden Key International Honour Society award for the best lecturer in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University in 2006 and has been named the best lecturer in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University in 2007. In 2014, he received the Vice-chancellor’s Award as the promoter of the best master’s degree at the NWU. Pierre-André has published various articles in accredited, national and international academic journals, and has presented papers at national and international conferences, where he has won best paper awards on three occasions. His main focus of teaching and research is event tourism and marketing.
Prof Serena Lucrezi
Professor +27 18 285 2331 Serena.lucrezi@nwu.ac.zaPhd (Marine Ecology), Hons (Zoology)
Dr Dao V Truong
Postdoctoral fellow +27 18 285 2331 vandao83@yahoo.co.uk E3, Potchefstroom Phd
Dao has been with NWU since 2015. He graduated from the University of Canterbury. His research interests include sustainable tourism, poverty alleviation, and social marketing.