Transformative Foresight in Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality
How do we respond to changes in tourism and how can the region benefit more from tehm? These are some of the questions explored by the Transformative Foresight in Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality (LTH) Professorship of Applied Sciences. The professorship studies tomorrow's scenarios, analyses tourism trends and looks at how the sector can better respond to them, so that it is well prepared for the future of tourism.
For 15 years, we have specialised in scenario planning and strategic foresight and have since embraced transformative foresight: an approach that helps organisations and businesses respond to major societal changes. Covid-19 showed just how vulnerable, and at the same time resilient, the sector is. Since the pandemic, the LTH-domain has been growing faster than ever, facing significant challenges. This calls for transitions, to which transformative foresight makes an essential contribution.
In the North of the Netherlands in particular, this growth calls for smart strategies, as tourism in this region is closely linked to nature and culture, creates economic opportunities, and must also safeguard liveability.
Mission
How can we help create broad prosperity in the region? At NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, we believe that futures thinking, connection and collaboration are the key. We recognise that the choices we make today shape our future. That is why we see transformative foresight as a powerful tool to guide students towards a future full of opportunities.
Together with students, lecturers, researchers, governments, businesses, organisations and residents, we work on innovative solutions that allow the sector to contribute to broad prosperity in the region. Through applied research and collaboration, we take steps towards a future in which everyone involved has the opportunity to take part and contribute.
Objectives
- Contribute to broad prosperity by helping regions and the sector become more resilient, adaptive and future-proof.
- Strengthen the profile of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences and the appeal of the study programmes within Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality (from associate degree to professional doctorate).
- Educate students to become professionals capable of using futures and scenario thinking to drive change and initiate transitions.
Research themes
Futures literacy in tourism and leisure regions
Futures literacy in tourism and leisure organisations
Futures literacy in tourism and leisure businesses
Education as a driver of change
The professorship sees education as the key to innovation in the sector. From their first year of study, students connect their talents and ambitions to local challenges, from associate degree (AD) to professional doctorate (PD). Not only do they develop knowledge, but also the motivation and skills to drive sustainable change. In this way, students work in a design-based manner on social challenges in the region.
Collaboration with ETFI
The professorship is closely linked to the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI), the only knowledge centre in Europe focused on futures studies and scenario planning within the tourism sector. The professorship and ETFI also organise masterclasses, networking events and conferences to share knowledge and experience with professionals from the sector.
Research group team members
- Albert Postma (PhD, professor of applied sciences)
- Noël Middelhoek (MSc, researcher for tourism and leisure regions)
- Rob Ahlers (PhD, researcher for tourism and leisure organisations)
- Vacancy (researcher for tourism and leisure businesses)
- Jochem Jansen (MA, PD candidate)
- Sarike van Slooten (PhD, postdoctoral researcher)
- Bernadett Papp (PhD candidate)
- Dr. Kenneth Miller, liaison between professorship and study programmes
An overview of selected publications by members of the professorship:
In autumn 2024, ETFI published a book explaining the scenario planning method and approach. The book features a number of case studies from ETFI’s own practice. The book can be ordered via https://www.channelviewpublications.com/page/detail/Scenario-Planning-and-Tourism-Futures/?k=9781845418861.
- Hartman, S., Postma, A., Yeoman, I. (2024). “Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Journal of Tourism Futures”, special issue of the Journal of Tourism Futures, Volume 10 Issue 3. https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/2055-5911/vol/10/iss/3
- Postma, A. Hartman, S, & Yeoman, I (2024). Tourism Futures and Scenario Planning: Theory Building, Methodologies and Case Studies. Channelview. (te bestellen https://www.channelviewpublications.com/page/detail/Scenario-Planning-and-Tourism-Futures/?k=9781845418861)
- Slooten, Sarike van. (2025). "Towards a postcolonial museum? Experiencing legacies of colonialism in dark tourism museum exhibits". In N. Sharma, A. Martini, D.J. Timothy, Critical Theories in Dark Tourism: Issues, Complexities and Future Directions, chapter 12, p. 219-244. De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110792072-013
- Peeters, P., & Papp, B. (2024). “Pathway to zero emissions in global tourism: opportunities, challenges, and implications”. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 32(9), 1784–1810. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2024.2367513.
- Postma, A., Heslinga, J., Hartman, S. (2024). “Scenario planning as a tool to future proof the visitor economy after the COVID-19 pandemic: opportunities for sustainability and digitalization”. In H. Pechlaner, E. Innerhofer, J. Philipp (Eds.). chapter 6. From overtourism to Sustainability Governance: A New Tourism Era.. Routlegde, Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003365815
- Köchling, A., Seeler, S., Van Der Merwe, P., & Postma, A. (2022, Eds.). Towards sustainable and resilient tourism futures. Insights from the International Competence Network of Tourism Research and Education (ICNT). DITF German Institute for Tourism Research, Fachhochschule Westküste.
- Yeoman, I.S., Postma, A., & Hartman, S. (2022).”Scenarios for New Zealand tourism: a COVID-19 response”. Journal of Tourism Futures, 8(2), 177-193. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-07-2021-0180
- Cavagnaro, E., Postma, A., De Brito, M., & Herrewijn, A. (2021). “The sustainability agenda and international events” In N. Ferdinand and P. Kitchin (Eds., 3rd ed.). Events management. An international Approach, p.288-316. London: Sage.
- Ferdinand, N., Postma, A., & Boucher, l. (2021). “The future of international events”. In N. Ferdinand and P. Kitchin (Eds., 3rd ed.). Events management. An international Approach, p.334-361. London: Sage.
- Ferdinand, N., Postma, A., & Boucher, l. (2021). “The future of international events”. In N. Ferdinand and P. Kitchin (Eds., 3rd ed.). Events management. An international Approach, p.334-361. London: Sage.
- Postma, A. & Yeoman, I. (2020). “A systems perspective as a tool to understand disruption in travel and tourism”. Journal of Tourism Futures, 7 (1), 67-77. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-04-2020-0052
- Postma, A. and Papp, B. (2020), "Of trends and trend pyramids". Journal of Tourism Futures, 7 (2), 162-167. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-11-2019-0129
- Postma, A., Koens, K., and Papp, B. (2020). “Overtourism: carrying capacity revisited”. In J. Oskam (ed.). The overtourism debate: NIMBY, nuisance, commodification. Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83867-487-820201015
Koens, K., Postma, A., Papp, B. (2018). “Is Overtourism overused? Understanding the Impact of Tourism in a City Context”. Sustainability, 10(12), 4384. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124384
A key publication is the academic journal ‘Journal of Tourism Futures’. This is an open access journal initiated by the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI). It is edited by professors of applied sciences Albert Postma and Ian Yeoman and ETFI programme manager Stefan Hartman.
Contact
With this professorship, we are working towards a future in which the leisure, tourism and hospitality sector is not only economically, but also socially and ecologically sustainable. Would you like to find out more or collaborate with us? Get in touch!
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
Research Group Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality
PO Box 1298
8900 CG Leeuwarden
Professor of applied sciences Albert Postma,
Transformative Foresight in Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality Professorship of Applied Sciences
E: albert.postma@nhlstenden.com
T: +31 (0)6 153 197 33
European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI)
Website: https://www.nhlstenden.com/etfi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-tourism-futures-institute/
Email: info@etfi.eu
