Tourism Research Lab

The UGA Tourism Research Lab employs cutting-edge research to help destinations, tourism businesses, and non-profits better understand the needs and wants of their customers, residents, and employees.

Current Research

• Fad or Renaissance? A study on Pisgah/Nantahala Recreation Trends since COVID-19 with Dr. Gary Green and Ms. Chase Perren (M.S. student)
• Georgia Department of Economic Development & Tourism Visitor Information Center Survey with Dr. John Salazar, Dr. Dan Remar, Dr. John Bergstrom, Dr. Craig Landry, and Dr. Kyle Woosnam
• Examining Visitor Spatial and Temporal Distribution at Fort Sumter National Historic Site. National Park Service with Dr. Ryan Sharp and Dr. Kyle Woosnam
• Kennesaw Mountain Visitor Use Study with Dr. Kyle Woosnam and Dr. Ryan Sharp
• Customized Deer Management for Residential Communities with Dr. Gino D'Angelo, Amanda Van Buskirk (Ph.D. Student), and Shane Boehne (M.S. Student)
• The Conspicuous Consumption Posting Scale (CCPS) and its influence over Social Return with Zack Russell, Kyle Woosnam, and Keith Campbell
• What Drives Organizational Administration of Citizen Science? An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Social Exchange Theory with Amanda Van Buskirk, Charlie Killmaster, Tina Johannsen, and Gino D'Angelo

Publications

1. Boley, B., Russell, Z., Kock, F., & Kuhn, F. (2025). Prestige, Social Return and Intent to Travel: Making Sense of How Consumers Use The Prestige Conveyed by Travel to Signal Status. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 42(6), 1–15.
2. Strzelecka, M., Boley, B., & Akhshik, A. (Published Online). Beyond Economics: The Role of Empowerment in Shaping Conservation Justice through Rural Nature-Based Tourism? Journal of Ecotourism. Accepted on May 25, 2025. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14724049.2025.2502621
3. Rahman*, S., & Boley, B. (2025). What Does Personality Tell Us about Travellers’ Social Media Use, Social Return and Travel Intentions? (Research Note). Current Issues in Tourism, 28(13), 2063–2069.
4. Boley, B., Perren*, C., White, E., & Green, G. (2025). Do Residents Really Care to be Empowered? Prioritizing Empowerment through Importance Performance Analysis. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 37(September), 101017.
5. Boley, B. (2025). Conservation of Resources Theory: A New Theory for the Resident Attitude Literature. Annals of Tourism Research, 112(May), 103949.
6. Perren*, C., Boley, B., White, E., Green, G., & Woosnam, K. (2025). Protected area influence over resident attitudes towards tourism in gateway communities. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 33(3), 436–456.
7. Magnini, V., Rumbaugh, E., Quendler, E., & Boley, B. (2025). State of Incentivizing Property-Level Environmental Sustainability in the U.S. Hotel Industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 126(April), 1–8.
8. Fowler, B*, Green, G., & Boley, B. (2024). Integrating Importance Performance Analysis into Transboundary Natural Resource Management of Water Trails: Case Study at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area & Water Trail. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 47, 100800: 1–11.
9. Santos*, E., Pereira, L., Pinto, P., Boley, B., & Ribeiro, M. (2024). Imperialism, Empowerment, and Support for Sustainable Tourism: Can residents become empowered through tourism in an imperialistic tourism development model? Tourism Management Perspectives, 53, 101270.
10. Rojas*, C., Boley, B., Mach, L., & Abrams, J. (2024). Expanding Protected Areas: A Case for Repairing Intergenerational Social Capital Rather than Taking the Path of Least Resistance. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 32(10), 2098–2117.
11. Yeager, E., Boley, B., & Woosnam. (2024). Non-Hosting Residents’ Emotional Solidarity with Peer-to-Peer Accommodation Hosts. Current Issues in Tourism, 27(17), 2703–2708.
12. Boley, B., Woosnam, K., & Jordan, E. (2024). Animosity, Social Return, and Intent to Travel. Journal of Travel Research, 63(7), 1657–1670.
13. Russell*, Z., & Boley, B. (2024). What would you sacrifice for the 'gram? Developing and testing the Social Media Sacrifice Scale (SMSS). Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 41(5), 689–704.
14. Santos*, E., Pereira, L., Pinto, P., & Boley, B. (2024). Development and validation of the new Resident Empowerment through Tourism Scale: RETS 2.0. Tourism Management, 104(October), 104915.
15. Huang, T., Jordan, J., Boley, B., Woosnam, K., Xiao, X., Maruyama, N., & Rojas, C. (2024). Rebuilding international tourism: Using Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions to Identify Markets with Lower Pandemic-Related Travel Risks. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 31(March), 100855.
16. Perren*, C., Boley, B., Green, G., & White, E. (2023). Fad or Renaissance? Motivational and demographic characteristics of USDA Forest Service recreationists during and after the pandemic. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 44(100700), 1–11.
17. Li, Xiangping, Boley, B., & Yang, F. (2023). Resident Empowerment and Support for Gaming Tourism: Comparisons of Resident Attitudes Pre- and Amid-COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, 47(8), 1503–1529.
18. Boley, B., & Jordan, E. (2023). Leveraging IPA Gap Scores to Predict Intent to Travel (Research Note). Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 57, 97–101.
19. Boley, B., Jordan, E., Woosnam, K., Maruyama, N., Xiao, X., & Rojas, C*. (2023). Buttressing Social Return’s Influence on Travel Behaviour. Current Issues in Tourism, 26(17), 2829–2844.
20. Karimi, A., & Boley, B. (2023). Service quality assessments of cultural heritage sites by residents and tourists: Application of four complementary IPA techniques. Tourism Planning and Development, 20(4), 541–565.
21. Strzelecka, M., Prince, S., & Boley, B. (2023). Resident Connection to Nature and Attitudes Towards Tourism: Findings from three different nature-based tourism destinations in Poland. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(3), 664–687.
22. Adloo*, S., Green, G., & Boley, B. (2023). Measuring 'Iconicism' through the Iconic Species Scale. Society and Natural Resources, 36(1), 1–19.
23. Yeager*, E., Boley, B., & Goetcheus, C. (2023). Conceptualizing peer-to-peer accommodations as disruptions in the urban tourism system. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(2), 504–519.
24. Russell*, Z., Boley, B., Woosnam, K., & Campbell, W. K. (2022). Motivations Behind Posting Travel Pictures for Status: Developing and Testing the Conspicuous Consumption Posting Scale (CCPS). Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 39(6), 555–569.
25. Boley, B., Russell, Z.*, & Woosnam, K. (2022). Functional and Self-Congruity’s Influence on Lodging Choice: A Comparison of Franchise and Independent Accommodations. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 50, 318–326.
26. Li, Xiangping, Boley, B., & Yang, F. (2022). Empowerment and its divergent influence over mass and alternative tourism: Lessons from Macao where gaming meets cultural heritage. International Journal of Tourism Research, 24(6), 786–799.
27. Kline, C., Knollenberg, W., Boley, B., & Jordan, E. (2022). Personal factors influencing US Travelers’ sentiments toward travel policies to Cuba. Journal of Tourism Insights, 12(1), Art. 9. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/jti/vol12/iss1/9/
28. Woosnam, K., Alector, M. A., Denley, T.*, Hehir, C., & Boley, B. (2022). Psychological antecedents of last chance tourism engagement: Considering complementary theories. Journal of Travel Research, 61(6), 1342–1357.
29. Beall*, J., & Boley, B. (2022). An Ecotourist by Whose Standards? Developing and Testing the Ecotourist Identification Scale (EIS). Journal of Ecotourism, 21(2), 99–120.
30. Boley, B., Strzelecka, M., Yeager*, E., Ribeiro, M., Aleshinloye, K., Woosnam, K., & Mimbs, B. (2021). Measuring Place Attachment with The Abbreviated Place Attachment Scale (APAS). Journal of Environmental Psychology, 74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101577
31. Rosenberger*, J. P., Boley, B. B., Edge, A. C., Yates, C. J., Miller, K. V., Osborn, D., Killmaster, C. H., Johannsen, K. L., & D’Angelo, G. J. (2021). Satisfaction of public land hunters during long-term deer population decline. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 45(4), 608–617.
32. Aleshinloye, K., Woosnam, K., Erul, E., Suess, C., Kong, I., & Boley, B. (2021). Which construct is better at explaining residents’ involvement in tourism; emotional solidarity or empowerment? Current Issues in Tourism, 24(23), 3372–3386.
33. Yeager*, E., Boley, B., Welch-Divine, M., & Goetcheus, G. (2021). Peer-to-peer accommodation hosts: An identity framework. Journal of Qualitative Research in Tourism, 2(1), 20–41.
34. Beall*, J., Boley, B., Landon, A., & Woosnam, K. M. (2021). What drives ecotourism: environmental values or symbolic conspicuous consumption? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(8), 1215–1234.
35. Boley, B., Jordan, J., & Woosnam, M. (2021). Reversed polarity items in tourism scales: Best practice or dimensional pitfall? Current Issues in Tourism, 24(4), 466–478.
36. Boley, B., & Woosnam, K. (2021). Going Global or Going Local? Why Travelers Choose Franchise and Independent Accommodations. Journal of Travel Research, 60(2), 354–369.
37. Knollenberg, W., Kline, C., Jordan, E., & Boley, B. (2020). Will US Travelers be Good Guests to Cuba? Examining US traveler segments’ sustainable behavior and interest in visiting Cuba. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 18(December), 100505, 1–11.
38. Mimbs*, B. P., Boley, B. B., Bowker, J. M., Woosnam, K. M., & Green, G. T. (2020). Importance-performance analysis of residents and tourists' preferences for water-based recreation in the Southeastern United States. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 31(100324), 1–11.
39. Denley*, T., Woosnam, K., Riberio, M. A., Boley, B., Hehir, C., & Abrams, J. (2020). Individuals’ intentions to engage in last chance tourism: Applying the value-belief-norm model. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(11), 1860–1881.
40. Yeager*, E., Boley, B., Woosnam, K., & Green, G. (2020). Modeling Residents’ Attitudes towards Short-Term Vacation Rentals. Journal of Travel Research, 59(6), 955–974.
41. Dongoh, J., Woosnam, K., Strzelecka, M., & Boley, B. (2020). Knowledge, empowerment, and action: Testing the empowerment theory in a tourism context. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(1), 69–85.
42. TenHarmsel*, H., Boley, B., Irwin, B., & Jennings, C. (2019). An Importance-Satisfaction Analysis of Trout License Holders in Georgia. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 39, 1227–1241.
43. Keith*, S., & Boley, B. (2019). Importance-Performance Analysis of Resident Urban Greenway Users: Findings from Three Atlanta BeltLine Neighborhoods. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 44.
44. Boley, B., Strzelecka, M., & Woosnam, K. (2018). Resident perceptions of the economic benefits of tourism: Towards a Common Measure. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, 42(8), 1295–1314.
45. Palardy, N., Boley, B., & Johnson-Gaither, C. (2018). Resident support for urban greenways across diverse neighborhoods: Comparing two Atlanta's BeltLine segments. Landscape and Urban Planning, 180(December), 223–233.
46. Jordan, E., Boley, B., Knollenberg, W., & Kline, C. (2018). Predictors of intention to travel to Cuba across three time horizons: An application of the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Travel Research, 57(7), 981–993.
47. Soulard, J., Knollenberg, W., Boley, B., Perdue, R., & McGehee, N. (2018). Social capital and destination strategic planning. Tourism Management, 69, 189–200.
48. Boley, B., Jordan, E., Kline, C., & Knollenberg, W. (2018). Social Return and Intent to Travel. Tourism Management, 64, 119–128.
49. Landon, A., Woosnam, K., & Boley, B. (2018). Modeling the psychological antecedents to tourists’ pro-sustainable behaviors: An application of the value-belief norm model. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(6), 957–972.
50. Moran**, C., Boley, B., Woosnam, K., Jordan, E., Kline, C., & Knollenberg, W. (2018). The battle of the socials: Which socially symbolic factors best predict intent to travel? Tourism Management, 68, 324–327. [Research Note]
51. Woosnam, K., Maruyama, M., Boley, B., & Erul, E. (2018). Stereotypes and perceived solidarity in ethnic enclave tourism. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 16(2), 138–154.
52. Boley, B., Strzelecka, M., & Watson*, A. (2018). Place Distinctiveness, Psychological Empowerment, and Support for Tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 70, 137–139. [Research Note]
53. Palardy*, N., Boley, B., & Johnson-Gaither, C. (2018). Residents and Urban Trails: Modeling Support for the Atlanta Beltline. Landscape and Urban Planning, 169, 250–259.
54. Weber**, S., Boley, B., Palardy*, N., & Johnson-Gaither, C. (2017). The impact of urban greenways on residential concerns: Findings from the Atlanta Beltline Trail. Landscape and Urban Planning, 167, 147–156.
55. Strzelecka, M., Boley, B., & Woosnam, K. (2017). Place attachment and empowerment: Do residents need to be attached to be empowered? Annals of Tourism Research, 66, 61–73.
56. Boley, B., Ayscue*, E., Maruyama, N., & Woosnam, K. (2017). Gender and empowerment: Assessing Discrepancies using the Resident Empowerment through Tourism Scale. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(1), 113–129.
57. Maruyama, N., Woosnam, K., & Boley, B. (2017). Who is ethnic neighborhood tourism for anyway? Considering perspectives of the dominant cultural group. International Journal of Tourism Research, 19(6), 727–735.
58. Strzelecka, M., Boley, B., & Strzelecka, C. (2017). Empowerment and resident support for tourism in rural Central and Eastern Europe (CEE): The case of Pomerania, Poland. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(4), 554–572.
59. Maruyama, N., Woosnam, K., & Boley, B. (2017). Resident Attitudes toward Ethnic Neighborhood Tourism (ENT): Perspectives of ethnicity and empowerment. Tourism Geographies, 19(2), 265–286.
60. Boley, B., McGehee, N., & Hammet, A. L. (2017). Importance-performance analysis (IPA) of sustainable tourism initiatives: The resident perspective. Tourism Management, 58, 66–77.
61. Boley, B., & Strzelecka, M. (2016). Towards a Universal Measure of 'Support for Tourism.’ Annals of Tourism Research, 61, 238–241. [Research Note]
62. Maruyama, N., Woosnam, K., & Boley, B. (2016). Comparing Levels of Resident Empowerment among Two Culturally-Diverse Resident Populations in Oizumi, Gunma, Japan. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 24(10), 1442–1460.
63. Woosnam, K., Maruyama, & Boley, B. (2016). Perceptions of the ‘Other’ residents: Implications for attitudes of tourism development focused on the minority ethnic group. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 33(5), 567–580.
64. Boley, B., & Green, G. (2016). Ecotourism and natural resource conservation: The ‘potential’ for a sustainable symbiotic relationship. Journal of Ecotourism, 15(1), 36–50.
65. Boley, B., & Johnson Gaither, C. (2016). Exploring Empowerment within the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor: Implications for heritage tourism development in the Lowcountry. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 11(2), 155–176.
66. Nickerson, N., Jorgenson, J., & Boley, B. (2016). Are sustainable tourists a higher spending market? Tourism Management, 54, 170–177.
67. Ayscue*, E., Boley, B., & Mertzlufft*, C. (2016). Mobile technology and resident attitude research. Tourism Management, 52, 559–562. [Research Note]
68. Boley, B., Maruyama, N., & Woosnam, K. (2015). Measuring empowerment in an Eastern context: Findings from Japan. Tourism Management, 50, 112–122.
69. Boley, B. (2015). To travel or not to travel? Both have implications for sustainable tourism. Tourism Planning and Development, 12(2), 208–224.
70. Boley, B., McGehee, N., Perdue, R., & Long, P. (2014). Empowerment and resident attitudes toward tourism: Strengthening the theoretical foundation through a Weberian lens. Annals of Tourism Research, 49, 33–50.
71. Boley, B., & McGehee, N. (2014). Measuring empowerment: Developing and validating the Resident Empowerment through Tourism Scale (RETS). Tourism Management, 45, 85–94.
72. Knollenberg, W., McGehee, N., Boley, B., & Clemmons, D. (2014). Motivation-based transformative learning and potential volunteer tourists: Facilitating more sustainable outcomes. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 22(6), 922–941.
73. Boley, B., & Uysal, M. (2013/2014). Competitive synergy through triple bottom line sustainability: Evidence from three hospitality case studies. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 13(4), 226–238.
74. Boley, B., & Nickerson, N. (2013). Profiling geotravelers: An a priori segmentation identifying and defining sustainable travelers using the Geotraveler Tendency Scale (GTS). Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(2), 314–330.
75. Boley, B., Magnini, V., & Tuten, T. (2013). Social media picture posting and souvenir purchase behavior: Some initial findings. Tourism Management, 37, 27–30. [Research Note]
76. McGehee, N. G., Boley, B., Hallo, J., McGee, J., Norman, W., Goetcheus, C., & Oh, Chi-Ok. (2013). Doing Sustainability: An application of an inter-disciplinary and mixed-method approach. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(3), 355–375.
77. Boley, B. (2011). Sustainability in hospitality and tourism education: Towards an integrated curriculum. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, 23(4), 22–30.
78. Boley, B., Nickerson, N., & Bosak, K. (2011). Measuring geotourism: Developing and testing the Geotraveler Tendency Scale (GTS). Journal of Travel Research, 50(5), 567–578.
79. Bosak, K., Boley, B., & Zaret, K. (2010). Deconstructing the “Crown of the Continent”: Power, politics and the process of creating National Geographic’s geotourism mapguides. Tourism Geographies, 12(3), 460–480.