Associate professor traveling to Norway for research

IU School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation associate professor Joseph Chen will be traveling to the Arctic to study the social impact of tourism in Norway after receiving a $275,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

“For sustainable tourism development, the partnerships with tourists and business is very important,” Chen said in an IU press release. “It’s important to learn the needs of all stakeholders because they are very different, yet sustainable tourism requires a balance of these needs.”

Chen said his research will focus on the needs and perceptions of tourists and the business community.

As for why he is going to Norway, he said it is because the country is a niche market because of the expense. The weather also helps tourist conditions.

His study will focus on Alta, Kirkenes, Karasjok, North Cape, Hammerfest, Honningsvag and Båtsfjord.

Last year, Chen started working with another Norwegian tourism marketing research project funded by a $5.5 million grant from the Norwegian Research Council.

— Lindsey Erdody