Anya Chapman

Dr Anya Chapman

  • u_achapman at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
  • Principal Academic In Tourism Management
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Biography

Dr Anya Chapman joined Bournemouth University in 2013 and has worked as an academic in UK universities since 2003, specialising in tourism, hospitality, and leisure management. Prior to joining academia, Anya worked as a manager for a number of tourism organisations in the UK, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the Trafford Centre, and Namco Operations. Anya gained her PhD from the Management School at the University of Liverpool in 2012, with a thesis entitled ‘The Arcade Fire and Other Misdemeanours: Organisational Subcultures and Employee Misbehaviour in Amusement Arcades’. Her current research interests and publications include work on the regeneration of coastal resorts; tourism development in Malta; tourism employment; and traditional attractions at British seaside resorts such as fairgrounds, piers, and amusement arcades. Anya has served on the Executive Committee of the National Piers Society and is a founding member of the Seaside Heritage Network.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:

Decent work and economic growth

"Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all"

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Sustainable cities and communities

"Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"

more information

Journal Articles

Chapters

  • Chapman, A., 2022. Seaside Piers. Encyclopedia of Tourism Management and Marketing Volume 1 4.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2017. Last Night of the Fair: Heritage, Resort Identity and the Closure of Southport’s Pleasureland. In: Wood, J., eds. The Amusement Park History Culture and the Heritage of Pleasure. Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Rosslee, C., Chapman, A., 2015. Experiences and Tourism in Coastal Areas: Marketing the tourist experience at the English Riviera. In: Fuste, F., Amposta, J.B., eds. Experiences and Tourism: A multi-destination analysis. Barcelona: Escola Universitaria Formatic Barcelona, 95-129.
  • Chapman, A., Ferry, K., Hayler, S.. Light entertainment, fairgrounds, penny-arcades and beach huts. In: Walton, J.K., eds. Coastal Regeneration in English Resorts. Lincoln: CCA.

Conferences

  • Chapman, A., Walter, R., 2025. Asynchronous Video Interviews: An authentic assessment format for HRM. In: FILE Learning & Teaching Conference 2025 07/07/2025 Bournemouth University.
  • Chapman, A., 2022. Wilvercombe and the seaside resorts of the 1930s. In: The Dorothy L Sayers Society 46th Annual Convention 04/08/2022 University of Bristol, UK.
  • Chapman, A., 2019. The Great British Seaside Revival: Identifying best practice in coastal regeneration projects. In: Sea Change: Coastal Heritage and Climate Change conference 04/09/2019 Blackpool, UK.
  • Axon, S., Light, D., Chapman, A., 2019. Energy at the Edge: Conflicting narratives of renewable energy developments in coastal communities. In: The 15th annual International Association for the Study of Environment Space and Place conference 24/04/2019 Liverpool, UK.
  • Light, D., Chapman, A., 2019. The strangely neglected heritage of the British seaside. In: Travel and Tourism Research Association (Europe Chapter) Annual Conference 08/04/2019 Bournemouth, UK.
  • Chapman, A., Richardson, L., 2019. Making the British seaside great again: An evaluation of coastal regeneration projects. In: Travel and Tourism Research Association (Europe Chapter) Annual Conference 08/04/2019 Bournemouth, UK.
  • Cassar, J., Chapman, A., Whitfield, J., 2017. Important contemporary motivators and inhibitors in association delegates’ conference attendance choice. In: Beyond the Waves: 4th International Conference in Events (ICE) 12/12/2017 Rosen College of Hospitality Management, UCF, Orlando, Florida, USA. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://uk.search.yahoo.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1094&context=ice2017.
  • Cassar, J., Chapman, A., Whitfield, J., 2017. Important contemporary motivators and inhibitors in association delegates’ conference attendance choice. In: Beyond the Waves: 4th International Conference in Events (ICE) 12/12/2017 Rosen College of Hospitality Management, UCF, Orlando, Florida, USA. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://uk.search.yahoo.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1094&context=ice2017.
  • Chapman, A., Richardson, L., 2017. Identifying best practice in British seaside resort regeneration. In: ATHE Annual Conference 2017: New approaches to Tourism Learning in Higher Education and Research on Coastal Tourism 06/12/2017 Eastbourne, UK.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., Axon, S., 2017. Reconciling tourism and blue energy at the coast. In: The Visitor Economy: Strategies and Innovations 04/09/2017 Bournemouth.
  • Light, D., Chapman, A., Axon, S., 2017. Blue energy: Marginality, identity and engagement at the coast. In: Royal Geographical Society Annual Conference 29/08/2017 London.
  • Chapman, A., 2017. Celebrating 200 years of British Seaside Piers. In: Beside The Seaside: Seaside Heritage Network Conference 24/04/2017 Scarborough, UK.
  • Axon, S., Chapman, A., Light, D., 2017. Coastal sustainability transitions: Marginality, engagement and communities. In: Sustainability Transitions in the Coastal Zone 30/03/2017 Southern Connecticut State University.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2016. Pier-ing into the future: Seaside pier sustainability in the 21st century. In: 2016 ATLAS Annual Conference: Tourism, Lifestyles and Locations 14/09/2016 Canterbury, UK.
  • Chapman, A., 2015. Pier Pressure: Best Practice in the Rehabilitation of Seaside Piers. In: REHAB 2015 International Conference 22/07/2015 Porto, Portugal. REHAB 2015: Proceedings of the 2nd international conference on preservation, maintenance and rehabilitation of historical buildings and structures, 1 Barcelos, Portugal: Green Lines Institute for Sustainable Development.
  • Chapman, A., 2015. The seaside pier as a barometer of changing trends in tourism and leisure. In: Leisure and Coasts, Ports and Waterways: BSSH Summer 2015 Workshop 13/06/2015 University of Portsmouth.
  • Chapman, A., 2014. Revisiting Bugibba: New directions for a resort in decline. In: Tourism, Malta and the Mediterranean: Tourism Research Symposium 16/07/2014 Valletta, Malta.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2014. Working with the carnivalesque in seaside resorts: An employee perspective. In: Seascapes: The Cultural Life of Seaside Towns’. COaST 2014 Conference 28/05/2014 Margate, UK.
  • Chapman, A., 2014. Regenerating Bugibba: Challenges and Opportunities. In: Reversing Decline: Product Regeneration in Malta’s Resort Towns, Malta Tourist Authority Seminar 03/02/2014 Valletta, Malta.
  • Chapman, A., Hunter-Jones, P., 2013. The Big Wheel Stops Turning: Resistance to Change in an Amusement Park. In: British Academy of Management Conference 10/09/2013 Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., Young, C., 2013. Employment, professionalism and opportunity: women's experience of tourism employment in Communist Romania. In: RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 28/08/2013 London.
  • Chapman, A., 2012. Game Over? The decline of the British seaside amusement arcade. In: LSA Coastal Cultures Conference 01/06/2012 University of Brighton.
  • Chapman, A., Speake, J., 2011. Constructing the view of Valletta: The commodification of the gaze in the development of leisure space’. In: RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 31/08/2011 London.
  • Chapman, A., 2011. Reinventing the (Ferris) Wheel: The varying fortunes of British seaside funfairs. In: Leisure Studies Association Conference 05/07/2011 Southampton Solent University.
  • Chapman, A., 2010. Last Night of the Fair: The Heritage, Culture and Closure of Southport’s Pleasureland. In: Institute for Archaeologists Annual Conference 14/04/2010 Southport.
  • Chapman, A., 2009. Trading on Nostalgia: Are ‘penny arcades’ the future of the British seaside amusement arcade? In: Resorting to the Coast: Tourism, Heritage and Cultures of the Seaside 25/06/2009 Blackpool.
  • Chapman, A., 2009. Fairground Culture: Part of our seaside heritage, or something the resorts would rather forget? In: Resorting to the Coast: Tourism, Heritage and Cultures of the Seaside 25/06/2009 Blackpool.
  • Chapman, A., 2008. The Penny Falls: Investigating Organisational Subcultures within the Amusement Arcade Industry’. In: Leisure Studies Association Conference 08/07/2008 Liverpool John Moores University.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2008. Dunes, Liminality and Deviance: Alternative Perspectives on Coastal Dunes as Recreational Spaces. In: International Dune Conference: Changing Perspectives on Coastal Dune Management 31/03/2008 Liverpool.
  • Chapman, A., 2005. All the Fun of the Fair: Crime, Deviance and Risk-Taking in the Workplace. In: BSA Risk Society Conference 05/09/2005 Liverpool Hope University.

Reports

Internet Publications

Others

PhD Students

  • Abdullah Alhumaydani. Investigating the role of stakeholder involvement in mega-events: A stakeholder analysis of Grand Prix in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, (In progress)
  • Tomi Agfianto. The readiness of Indonesia's tourism destinations in crisis and disaster mitigation, (In progress)
  • Dana Seow, 2020. The role of Gender, Patriarchy and Culture in the Asian female travel experience, (Completed)
  • James Cassar, 2021. The Rejuvenation of mature destinations: Developing a Destination Viability Model for Association Conference tourism, (Completed)
  • Yue Zhang, 2023. Evaluating hotel resilience: Understanding effective disaster management of hotels in China, (Completed)

Profile of Teaching PG

  • Tourism & Hospitality Dissertation - Level 7
  • MSc Management programmes - research project supervisor

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Understanding The Tourist - Level 4
  • Managing People in Tourism and Hospitality - Level 5
  • Tourist Behaviour and Experience - Level 5
  • International Human Resource Management - Level 6
  • Tourism & Hospitality Dissertation - Level 6
  • The Tourism and Hospitality Industries - Level 4

Invited Lectures

  • Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Online lecture series, 11 Aug 2020 more

Grants

  • Development of an Art Deco trail for Bournemouth (Research England, Regional Innovation Fund, 15 Feb 2024). Completed
  • Factors influencing domestic holidays and the role of publicly funded domestic tourism marketing (DCMS, 06 Jan 2020). Completed
  • Pier Review (Coastal Revival Fund, 04 Mar 2019). Completed
  • Climate Change and Seaside Piers (BU Student Research Assistant, 01 Jun 2017). Completed
  • Retaining global talent in a service industry environment (BU QR Funds, 01 Mar 2017). Completed
  • Exploring the potential for charity/community operation of Welsh seaside piers (BU Charity Impact Fund). Awarded

External Responsibilities

  • University of Southampton, PhD External Examiner (2024-1512024)
  • Leeds Beckett University, External Examiner MSc Responsible Tourism Mgmt (2021-2025)
  • British University Vietnam, External Examiner Tourism & Events programmes (2021-182026)
  • Liverpool John Moores University, External Examiner:FDAs Tourism/Leisure/Hospitality (2020-182025)
  • Staffordshire University, External Reviewer Tourism & Events Programmes (2017-1032017)
  • University of Malta, PhD External Examiner (2017)
  • Higher Education Academy, Reviewer for CATE and NTFS Awards (2017-)
  • ESRC, Research Grant Peer Reviewer (2017-)
  • Canterbury Christ Church University, External Examiner for Tourism & Hospitality (2016-2020)
  • Cardiff Metropolitan University, (CUC Athens), External Examiner: BA (Hons) International Travel (2014-2016)
  • University of Brighton, (UBIC), External Examiner: Hospitality & Tourism (2014-2019)
  • University of Wales, External Examiner (2011-2015)
  • University of Salford Business School, External Examiner (2005-2009)
  • International Journal of Hospitality and Event Management, Editorial Board Member

Internal Responsibilities

  • Tourism & Hospitality Level P & Level 6, Level Co-ordinator
  • Panel Member, Employability Awards
  • Board Member, Placement Exemption
  • Panel Member, Charity Impact Funding Panel
  • Panel Member, Academic Offences Panel
  • Panel Member and Mentor, Teach BU
  • Academic Adviser Levels 4 to 6, Academic Adviser

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

  • Director & Trustee Weymouth Museum (09 Dec 2024-01 Sep 2025)
  • Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) Member of the Education and Training Committee (19 Sep 2024)
  • One Coast Advisory Group (01 Nov 2022)
  • Member of England's Coastal Tourism Leadership Forum (01 Aug 2017-01 Jul 2020)
  • Academic Panel Member Blackpool Museum Project/ SHOWTOWN (01 Nov 2016-01 Mar 2024)
  • Founding Member & Trustee of Seaside Heritage Network (01 Feb 2016)
  • Trustee and Director of National Piers Society (01 Jul 2013-15 Jul 2023)

Qualifications

  • PhD in Organisational Behaviour/Misbehaviour (University of Liverpool, 2012)
  • PGCE in Further, Adult & Higher Education (Manchester Metropolitan University, 2003)
  • MA in Tourism & Leisure (Lancaster University, 1998)
  • BA (Hons) in Human Geography & Sociology (LJMU, 1996)

Memberships

  • Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow,
  • The Tourism Society, Member,
  • Leisure Studies Association, Member,
  • British Academy of Management, Member,

Social Media Links

External Media and Press

The data on this page was last updated at 05:00 on February 18, 2026.