Griffith Institute for Tourism

Huge congratulations to our GIFT researchers 🎉🎉🎉 Professor Kevin Filo, Associate Professor Jason Doyle, Associate Professor Popi Sotiriadou, Professor Charles Arcodia, Dr Caroline Riot.

Griffith University has been ranked #1 in Australia and #3 globally in the Sport Management Research Contribution Rankings (2015–2025) — a fantastic reflection of the strength, consistency, and global impact of our research community 🌏👏

Special shout out to Professor Kevin Filo, Associate Professor Jason Doyle, and Associate Professor Popi Sotiriadou for their outstanding individual rankings among the world’s top researchers in the field — an exceptional accomplishment! ✨

GIFT Adjunct Associate Professor Hera Oktadiana, CHE, has been awarded the “Halal Travel Scholar of the Year” Award by CrescentRating, the world’s leading authority in Halal tourism and publisher of the annual Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI).

This prestigious recognition was awarded in acknowledgment of her contributions to Halal tourism research and related initiatives. The award ceremony took place at the Halal in Travel Global Summit 2026 in Singapore on 18 June 2026.

GIFT is proud to see our researcher Professor Basak Denizci Guillet contribute to the HSMAI Commercial Strategy Conference at Marina Bay Sands, alongside leading industry experts.

A key insight from the session “Rate Chaos & AI Clarity”: in an AI-driven world, trust becomes a machine-readable asset. Building clarity and consistency across rates, room descriptions, policies, and offers is more important than ever.

Thank you to HSMAI and all panellists for an engaging discussion.

🎉 Congratulations to Associate Professor Popi Sotiriadou! 🎉

We are delighted to celebrate Popi’s recent appointment to the Board of Directors of Judo Australia. This prestigious role reflects her leadership and expertise across the broader sport management and sport governance landscape, including high performance systems and inclusive participation.

🎉 Congratulations to Associate Professor Popi Sotiriadou! 🎉

Delighted to celebrate the release of the second edition of Managing High Performance Sport, a significant milestone and a valuable contribution to the field.

This updated edition continues to be an essential resource for anyone working in sport management and development, offering practical insights into best practice, policy and processes in elite and high performance sport. With real world case studies and expanded coverage of contemporary topics such as interdisciplinary teams, athlete dual careers, innovation and parasport, it provides both strategic and operational guidance for practitioners and policymakers alike.

A fantastic achievement, Popi, congratulations on this important work! 👏📚

https://ow.ly/CH6550Z5Zo9

Managing High Performance Sport Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, this is still the only textbook to introduce best management practice, process and policy in elite and high‑performance sport (HPS). Drawing on real‑world case studies of elite sport around the world, this book outlines a conceptual framework for s...

Hera Oktadiana, Adjunct Associate Professor at GIFT, had the pleasure of speaking on Halal tourism as a model of value-driven sustainability and its practical implications in tourism and hospitality, as well as Muslim women’s equity, agency, and participation in tourism across two meaningful academic and professional engagements.

These included a session with students at Lehre SRH Hochschulen Berlin, Germany, and an international webinar on SDG 5: Gender Equality, organised by PATA Indonesia Chapter, the Ministry of Tourism, and Pancasila University.

Sincere appreciation to Manuela Gutberlet and Ningsih Chandra for their support.

📘✨ Exciting new publication

We’re delighted to share the launch of Risk and Tourism Marketing in Asia (Routledge, 2026), edited by GIFT Adjunct Professor Jeff Wilks, and Dr David Beirman (UTS), officially launched by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in March.

The book explores destination marketing and risk management strategies across 18 Asian countries, highlighting how destinations showcase their unique offerings while navigating challenges such as climate change, overtourism, natural disasters, and geopolitical uncertainty. It also examines how resilience and recovery strategies have been integrated into marketing plans in the post-COVID era.

👏 We’re especially proud that Chapter 2, Theory and Practice of Destination Marketing and Risk Management, was authored by GIFT Research Cluster Leader Dr Margarida Abreu Novais and GIFT Director Professor Sarah Gardiner.

Congratulations to all involved in this important contribution to tourism research! 🎉

The latest edition of Griffith Asia-Pacific Insights is now available — featuring a special focus on Southeast Asia and the evolving dynamics shaping Australia’s region.

This month’s edition explores:
• Australia’s ambitious Southeast Asia strategy
• Malaysia’s collapsing US trade agreement
• Food traceability and Australia–Vietnam trade
• Governance transitions across the Mekong
• Climate and health risks facing Southeast Asian agricultural workers
• Pacific regionalism and Brisbane 2032

Plus new research, publications, events, media commentary and a member spotlight on Gunaro Setiawan’s work supporting women’s empowerment and sustainable tourism in Indonesia.

🔗 https://ow.ly/CM1w50Z4Yps

🌏Recent coverage highlights why more Australians are choosing Vietnam as a travel destination, with Griffith Institute for Tourism researcher Dr Truc Le providing expert insights. She notes a strong alignment between Australian traveller preferences and what Vietnam offers—particularly affordable, high-quality experiences and accessibility closer to home.

With travel demand rising despite cost-of-living pressures, destinations like Vietnam are attracting growing interest by delivering value, authenticity, and diverse cultural experiences.

Read more: https://ow.ly/4qcQ50Z3HP9

Why it seems like everyone in Australia is travelling to Vietnam The number of Australians taking short trips to Vietnam has more than doubled since 2016 as holidaymakers seek affordable experiences close to home

👏We are pleased to share that Hera Oktadiana, Adjunct Associate Professor at GIFT, has published a new book titled Halal and Islamic Tourism: Exploring the Landscape and the Muslim Traveller’s Journey.

This book offers a comprehensive and timely exploration of Halal and Islamic tourism within the contemporary global travel industry. As Muslim-friendly tourism continues to move into the mainstream, the book highlights why a nuanced understanding of Muslim travel markets is increasingly important for destinations and tourism stakeholders worldwide.

A key contribution of this volume is its emphasis on the diversity of Muslim travellers, whose motivations, preferences, and experiences are shaped not only by cultural contexts but also by faith-based values and religious practices. The book pays particular attention to Muslim women travellers, offering insights into their motivations, lived experiences, and travel decision-making.

The book also explores how sustainability, emerging trends, and technology can enrich and transform the future of Halal and Islamic tourism. Importantly, Halal tourism is grounded in universal values that are relevant for all, including social well-being, fair trade and economic justice, and environmental regeneration.

🔗 More information about the book is available here: https://ow.ly/LePL50Z2wF8

🎉 Limited-time offer: Enjoy a 30% discount with code HIT30.

Reviews:

This timely book offers essential insights into the growing Muslim travel market. Rigorous research, combined with practical guidance and the author's unique perspective, will enrich your understanding of Halal tourism's opportunities and evolving consumer preferences. This book will equip academics and tourism professionals to develop Muslim-friendly tourism experiences and destinations, particularly in view of technology and future trends.
Professor Sarah Gardiner, Griffith University, Australia

This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand Halal and Islamic tourism and the behaviours of Muslim travellers. Blending academic insights, personal reflections and stories from the field, it takes readers on an eye-opening journey – making it an invaluable resource for scholars, practitioners, destination managers, and anyone interested in the evolving landscape of global tourism.
Professor Kaye Chon, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

This book bridges academia and practice, blending theoretical insights with stories from the field. It is more than just a book; it is a roadmap. The work will serve as an important reference for scholars, business leaders and policymakers who seek to shape a tourism model that is inclusive, value-driven and future-ready.
Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Entrepreneur and Former Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia

This book is an important scholarly contribution that provides valuable and timely insights into the evolving concept of Halal and Islamic tourism.
Professor Fevzi Okumus, University of South Carolina, USA