German Institute for Tourism Research receives visit from South Africa

North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa, and FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences have been cooperating closely for many years. In addition to student semesters abroad, the focus is on joint research projects. To this end, Heide University has now received another visit from its partner university.
Dr. Tafadzwa Matiza teaches and researches tourism at North-West University, with a focus on tourism consumer behavior. The renowned scientist has been in contact with the German Institute for Tourism Research at the FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences since 2018, after the two sides met at a joint international conference. In the meantime, this has grown into a lively collaboration that has resulted in studies, lectures and publications in tourism journals. The South African-German research group is focusing in particular on the question of how the long-distance travel behavior of Germans is changing in times of multiple crises (Covid-19, climate change, Ukraine war, etc.) and what recommendations for action can be derived from this. As Germany continues to be one of the most important international source markets for tourism in South Africa, the cooperation is of particular importance for both sides.
Another focus of the collaboration is the exchange of students and teachers. Dr. Matiza has already given guest lectures in the tourism management courses at the FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences and is preparing students for their excursion to South Africa. Conversely, Professor Dr. Bernd Eisenstein, Director of the German Institute for Tourism Research, has been appointed as an “Associate Professor” at the North-West University Research Institute and is planning his own research stay in 2024. There are numerous ideas and approaches for further joint research work; coordination is already underway.
Dr. Matiza always feels very much at home in Heide: in addition to the campus, he praises the town and especially its inhabitants as very friendly and welcoming. He is therefore looking forward to his next stay at the FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences with great anticipation.

Dr. Tafazdwa Matiza in his guest office at the FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences