Health Fitness and Recreation Resources
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Laura Lawton, Ph.D.
Griffith University, Australia
Assistant Professor
 
PROFILE:
Dr. Laura Lawton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources at George Mason University. She previously taught at Bond University within the School of Business and Griffith University’s School of Tourism and Hotel Management, both located on the Gold Coast of Australia. Laura holds a M.A. degree and B.A. (Hons. – Urban Planning) from the University of Western Ontario (Canada) in geography. In 2002 she was awarded a Ph.D. from Griffith University. Her thesis examined resident perceptions of tourist attractions on the Gold Coast.

Prior to moving to Australia, she was a Senior Research Officer/Policy Analyst for Saskatchewan Environment and Natural Resources in Canada. She has authored or co-authored numerous government reports, academic journal articles and book chapters in several areas, including protected areas, ecotourism, resident perceptions of tourism and cruise ship tourism. She is the co-author of the introductory tourism text ‘Tourism Management,’ published by John Wiley & Sons, and was recently appointed the Editor-and-Chief for Pacific Tourism Review, an international refereed journal. Laura is currently teaching courses in tourism management and events management.

PROGRAM AFFLIATION:
B.S. in Health, Fitness and Recreation Resources (HFRR)

  • Tourism and Events Management

COURSES TAUGHT:
TOUR200 - Introduction to Travel and Tourism
TOUR320 - Events Management
TOUR440 – Meetings and Conventions
TOUR490 - Internship in Tourism and Events Management

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

  • Ecotourism
  • Modified Spaces and Protected Areas
  • Resident Perceptions
  • Social Impacts
  • Tourist Attractions
  • Tourism and Event Management
 

PUBLICATIONS:

Books & Supplements
Tourism Management book

Weaver, D., & Lawton, L. (2002). Tourism Management (2nd ed.). Brisbane, Australia: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. xiii + 472 pp. ISBN 0-470-800666. [Available:
http://www.johnwiley.com.au/database/description.cfm?ISBN=0470800666]

Lawton, L. (2003). Tourism Management (2nd ed.) - PowerPoint Presentation (Chapters 1-12). Brisbane Australia: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. ISBN 0-470-800-771.

Lawton, L. (2001). Ecotourism - PowerPoint Presentation and Instructors Manual. Brisbane, Australia: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. ISBN 0-471-42230-4.
[Available: http://www.johnwiley.com.au/database/supplements.cfm?ISBN=0471422290]

Lawton, L. (2000). Tourism Management (1st ed.) - PowerPoint Presentation (Chapters 1-12). Brisbane, Australia: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. ISBN 0-471-34146-0.

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Research Monographs (Partially Refereed)

Weaver, D., & Lawton, L. (2002). Attitudes and Behaviour of Visitors at Selected Sites in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Gold Coast, Australia: CRC for Sustainable Tourism Pty Ltd. iv + 60pp. ISBN 1876 685107.

Weaver, D., & Lawton, L. (2001). Attitudes and Behaviour of Ecolodge Patrons in Lamington National Park. Gold Coast, QLD, Australia: CRC for Sustainable Tourism Pty Ltd. iv. + 65pp. ISBN 1876 685751.

Weaver, D., & Lawton, L. (1999). Sustainable Tourism: A Critical Analysis. Gold Coast, QLD, Australia: CRC for Sustainable Tourism Pty Ltd. iii + 48 p. ISBN 0646376470 and Library of Congress Control Number: 00304805

Weaver, D., Faulkner, B., & Lawton, L. (1998). Nature-Based Tourism in Australia and Beyond: A Preliminary Investigation. Gold Coast, QLD, Australia: CRC for Sustainable Tourism Pty Ltd. iii + 31 p. ISBN 187668500X

Refereed Journal Articles

Weaver, D., & Lawton, L. (2002). Overnight ecotourism market segmentation in the Gold Coast hinterland of Australia. Journal of Travel Research, 40(3): 270-280.

Lawton, L. (2001). Segmenting the Segment: Variations in the seniors ecotourist market. Journal of Hospitality & Leisure Marketing, 9(1/2): 113-132

Weaver. D., & Lawton, L. (2001). Resident perceptions of tourism in the urban-rural fringe: Tamborine Mountain, Australia. Annals of Tourism Research, 28(2): 439-458.

Weaver, D., & Lawton, L. (1999). Older Adults as a Distinct Timeshare Market in Australia. Australian Journal of Hospitality Management, 6(2): 1-11.

Weaver, D., & Lawton, L. (1998). A Profile of Timesharing on the Gold Coast of Australia. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 22(3):225-238.

Lawton, L., Weaver, D., & Faulkner, B. (1998). Customer Satisfaction in the Australian Timeshare Industry. Journal of Travel Research, 37(1):28-36.

Lawton, L. (1995). Saskatchewan Protected Areas Study Initiatives. Global Biodiversity 4(4): 13-15.

Lawton, L., Keith, J., & James, P. (1995). State/Provincial Reports: Saskatchewan. Natural Areas Journal, 15(1): 77-78.

Lawton, L. & Butler, R. W. (1987). The Cruise Ship Industry - Patterns in the Caribbean 1880-1986, Journal of Tourism Management, 8: 329-343.

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Book Chapters

Weaver, D., & Lawton, L. (2003). Segmentation of educational tendencies among tourist markets: Ecologe patrons at Lamington National Park, Australia. In Ritchie, B. (Ed.), Managing Educational Tourism (pp.73-77). Clevedon, UK: Channel View.

Lawton, L. (2001). Ecotourism in Public Protected Areas. In D. Weaver (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Ecotourism (pp.287-302). Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing. http://www.cabi-publishing.org/Bookshop/ReadingRoom/0851993680/0851993680ch18.pdf

Lawton, L., & Weaver, D. (2001). Ecotourism in Modified Spaces. In D. Weaver (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Ecotourism (pp.315-326). Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing. http://www.cabi-publishing.org/Bookshop/ReadingRoom/0851993680/0851993680ch20.pdf

Lawton, L., & Weaver, D. (2000). Nature-based Tourism and Ecotourism. In B. Faulkner, G. Moscardo, and E. Laws (Eds.), Tourism in the 21st Century: Lessons From Experience (pp. 34-48). London: Continuum.

Published Reports

Lawton, L. (2003). Internship Manual: A Guide for Students, Faculty and Agencies Participating in the HFRR Internship Program. Department of Health, Fitness and Recreation Resources, George Mason University. 67pp.

Lawton, L., & Faulkner, B. (1997). Australian Timeshare Industry: Resorts and Owners. Prepared for the Australian Timeshare & Holiday Ownership Council. Gold Coast: Centre for Tourism and Hotel Management Research, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus. [March]. 91pp.

Lawton, L. (1996). Saskatchewan State of the Environment Report: Contributor Guidelines. Regina: Policy and Public Involvement Branch, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management [April]. 46pp.

Lawton, L. (1995). A Status Report of Protected Areas in Saskatchewan. Regina: Policy and Public Involvement Branch, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management. [October]. 84pp.

Appleby, A., Gauthier, D., & Lawton L. (Eds.). (1995). Saskatchewan's Protected Areas. Proceedings of a Conference and Workshop held at the University of Regina, SK, June 20-21, 1994 [September]. 107pp. Library of Congress Control Number: 96199591

SERM. (1995). Saskatchewan State of the Environment Report 1995 The Boreal Plain Ecozone - A Forest Community. Regina: Policy and Public Involvement Branch, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management. [April]. 124pp. [available: http://www.serm.gov.sk.ca/pdf/SOE95.PDF]

SERM. (1995). Saskatchewan State of the Environment Report 1995 - Fact Sheet. Regina: Policy and Public Involvement Branch, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management. [April]. 4pp. [available: http://www.serm.gov.sk.ca/pdf/SOE95FAC.PDF]

Lawton, L., & Hickie, A. (1993). Protected Areas in Saskatchewan: A Statistical Report. Prepared for the Protected Areas Task Force. Regina: Policy and Partnerships Branch, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management. [December]. 163pp.

Lawton, L., et al. (1992). Forestry Advisory Group Report to the Conservation Strategy Committee of the Saskatchewan Round Table on the Environment an Economy. Environment and Public Safety: Round Table Secretariat. [March]. 44pp.

Lawton, L. (1990). Toward Sustainable Development: An Investigation into Canadian Conservation Strategies. Saskatchewan Parks and Renewable Resources: Resource Policy and Economics, Sustainable Development Unit. [May]. 70pp.

Lawton, L., et al. (1989). A Report From The Cash Register Information System Review Committee. Saskatchewan Parks, Recreation and Culture: Policy and Statistics Unit, Corporate Planning and Evaluation Branch. [December]. 124pp.

Lawton, L. (1989). Native Committee: Demographic and Interjurisdictional Overview. Saskatchewan Parks, Recreation and Culture: Policy and Statistics Unit, Corporate Planning and Evaluation Branch. 41pp.

SPRC. (1989). Summer Visitation and Outdoor Recreation Statistical Report, 1989. Saskatchewan Parks, Recreation and Culture: Policy and Statistics Unit, Corporate Planning and Evaluation Branch. [December]. 137pp.

SPRC. (1989). Summer Visitation and Outdoor Recreation Statistical Report, 1988. Saskatchewan Parks, Recreation and Culture: Policy and Statistics Unit, Corporate Planning and Evaluation Branch. [April]. 148pp.

Fitz, L., & Lawton, L. (1989). Health Care In Saskatchewan: A Structure For The Future - A Brief Presented to The Saskatchewan Commission on Direction in Health Care. Regina: Saskatchewan Health-Care Association. [March]. 236pp.

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Book Reviews

Lawton, L. (in press). Review of 'Ecotourism', by S. J. Page, and R.J. Dowling. Journal of Ecotourism.

GRANTS:

Griffith University, 1999 - 2001
Sustainable Tourism Augmented Graduate Support Scheme (STAGSS) CRC grant $9,000

SERVICE:
Dr. Lawton is a member of the Editorial Board of Pacific Tourism Review, a refereed International Journal. She also does manuscript reviews for the following refereed international journals: Journal of Ecotourism, Pacific Tourism Review and Tourism Management.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
Lawton, L. (2002). Resident Perceptions of Tourist Attractions on the Gold Coast of Australia. Travel and Tourism Research Association 33rd Annual Conference. Arlington, Virginia, USA. 23-26 June.

Lawton, L. (2000). Overnight Ecotourist Market Segmentation in the Gold Coast Hinterland of
Australia. National Extension Tourism 2000 Conference. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. 30 April - 3 May.

Lawton, L., Weaver, D. & Faulkner, B. (1997). Satisfaction Levels Among Australian Timeshare Owners. International Tourism Research Conference (CAUTHE). Sydney, Australia. 9 July.

Lawton, L. (1986). Changing Patterns of the Cruise Ship Industry in the Caribbean, 1880-1986, Presented at the Tourism in the 1990's Conference, jointly arranged by Tourism Management and the University of Surrey, UK, November 27-28

Lawton, L. (1986). Changing Images of the North American Cruise Ship Industry, Presented at the annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Minneapolis, MN. [May].

Lawton, L. (1986). The Historical Development of the Caribbean Cruise Ship Industry, Presented at the annual meeting of the Ontario Co-Operative Programme in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (OCPLACS), Guelph, Ontario. [March].

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AWARDS:
Griffith University, Australia, 1999 - 2001
Sustainable Tourism Augmented Graduate Support Scheme (STAGSS) CRC grant $9,000

Griffith University, Australia, 2000
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Gold Coast) and the Postgraduate Students Association's Campus Research Poster Competition Prize - Business Post Graduate Category: "Overnight Ecotourism Market Segmentation in the Gold Coast"

Government of Saskatchewan, Canada, 1994
Deputy Minister's Award, Saskatchewan Environment and Natural Resources. "In Recognition of Vision, Leadership and Excellence to Lynda Langford and Laura Lawton and the Protected Areas Team 1991-1994"

Government of Saskatchewan, Canada, 1991
Certificate of Appreciation. Minister of Environment and Public Safety, Chairman of the Saskatchewan Round Table on Environment and Economy and the Minister of Parks and Renewable Resources, Chairman, Conservation Strategy Committee.

Assistant Deputy Minister's Award, Saskatchewan Parks and Renewable Resources for participating and work on Advisory Group Reports for the Round Table on Environment and Economy.

ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

  • TTRA - Travel and Tourism Research Association

FAVORITE LINKS:
TIAA (Travel Industry Association of America) - http://www.tia.org/home.asp
Virginia Tourism Corporation - http://www.vatc.org/
WTO (World Tourism Organization) - http://www.world-tourism.org/

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address:
George Mason University
Health, Fitness and Recreation Resources
10900 University Boulevard, MS-4E5
Manassas, VA 20110-2203

Phone: 703-993-2062
Fax: 703-993-2025
E-mail: llawton@gmu.edu

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