Seminars topic: This lecture will explore the theoretical journey of moving from observed phenomena to identified research problems, using the case of “pilgrimage” as an analytical lens. It reflects on how cultural tourism research can transform from descriptive observations into deeper theoretical inquiries, aiming to contribute to the development of innovative frameworks in tourism studies and social sciences more broadly.

Scholars Background: LI Chunxiao is a Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the College of Tourism and Service Management, Nankai University, and holds a PhD from the University of Surrey, UK. She was selected for Tianjin’s “131” Innovation Talent Program and the Ministry of Education’s New Century Excellent Talents Support Program. She has been recognized as an Outstanding Young Scholar by the China Tourism Education Association and won the Young Researcher Innovation Award from the China Tourism Research Institute Alliance. She has led National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) projects, sub-projects under major programs, and general projects, publishing over 40 papers in leading international journals such as Tourism Management and Annals of Tourism Research. Her research focuses on the foundational theories of special tourism types, smart tourism, and AI-driven tourism applications. She has also guided student teams to win national prizes in tourism-related competitions and serves as a board member of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Asia-Pacific Chapter.

Time and Location: September 18, 2025, 13:30–15:00, Room A523, School of Management

Language: CN