BRIJESH THAPA, PH.D.
Associate Professor
Director: Center for Tourism Research & Development
Ph.D. in Recreation, Parks & Tourism, Pennsylvania State University (2000)
M.S. in Recreation, Parks & Tourism, Pennsylvania State University (1996)
B.S. in Business Administration, West Liberty State College (1994)
Curriculum Vitae

Office:		FLG 325B
Address:		P.O. Box 118209 Gainesville, FL 3261-82010
Contact:		(352) 392-4042 ext. 1239 bthapa@hhp.ufl.edu

Biography:

Brijesh Thapa, Ph.D., began his appointment in the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management in 2000. Since then, he has served as both an Associate Professor and the Graduate Coordinator. He is also the Director for the Center for Tourism Research and Development, and the Tourism Crisis Management Institute. In addition he is an Affiliate Faculty at four academic units at UF: School of Natural Resources & Environment, Warrington College of Business, Center for African Studies, and the Center for Latin American Studies.

Thapa has been involved in numerous research projects in the state of Florida and other areas in the U.S. Additionally, he has completed research projects in several countries and currently works with graduate students examining various topics related to cultural and natural resources management and tourism issues in Peru, Brazil, Suriname, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, St. Lucia, Dominica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Ethiopia, Botswana, Gabon, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Overall, his research program’s common theme is natural resource recreation and tourism management from a demand and supply perspective. Based on research in developing and developed countries, he hopes to better understand visitors and residents so that effective policies can be implemented to protect natural and cultural resources, provide economic benefits to residents, and enhance visitor experience in parks and protected areas. He has made significant contribution to the body of literature on specific topics, and his research findings are tools for managers and policy makers to effectively manage visitors, residents and cultural & natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Thapa is a member of the International Association for Society and Natural Resources, The International Ecotourism Society, Travel and Tourism Research Association, World Leisure and Recreation Association and the Society for Applied Anthropology.

Research Interests:

• • Ecotourism and cultural heritage tourism
• • Tourist behaviors and impacts: socio-cultural, environmental, economic
• • Visitor behaviors and outdoor recreation management in public lands
• • People, parks and protected areas management
• • Sustainable development issues in developing countries

Classes:
LEI 3546 Park Management
LEI 3810 Current Trends in Leisure Services
LEI 3830 Principles of Travel and Tourism
LEI 3832 Special Events and Meeting Planning
LEI 3836 Hospitality Management
LEI 4905: National Outdoor Recreation and Rural Tourism Consortium at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tremont, Tennessee
LEI 4955: Humans and the Environment (Study Abroad Course: Australia, New Zealand and Fiji)
LEI 6834 Ecotourism
LEI 6839 Heritage Tourism
LEI 6931 Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism
LEI 6931: Humans and the Environment (Study Abroad Course: Australia, New Zealand and Fiji)