This PhD is the doctoral programme of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the Cyprus University of Technology. It is a research-intensive degree awarded for an original and substantive contribution to knowledge in the fields of tourism and hospitality management. Established in 2009, the programme was renamed in 2022 from PhD in Hotel and Tourism Management to its current title, reflecting the broader scope and evolving research orientation of the discipline.

Doctoral candidates undertake an extended, independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in areas that align with the Department’s research expertise and academic interests. The programme examines tourism and hospitality as complex interdisciplinary fields with significant economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. It focuses on sustainable development, the formulation of contemporary management approaches, and the enhancement of destinations.

Tourism is a key sector of the Cypriot economy, providing a rich and applied context for doctoral research addressing contemporary challenges and emerging opportunities in tourism and hospitality. Through rigorous research, doctoral candidates develop innovative perspectives that contribute to scientific advancement, industry practice and evidence-based policymaking.

The PhD programme offers doctoral studies across a wide range of research areas reflecting the scientific interests and research activities of the Department’s academic staff. Its primary aim is to produce high-quality original research and to educate the next generation of scholars and professionals capable of contributing to academia, education, business practice and policy development in tourism and hospitality management.

A central objective of the programme is to equip doctoral candidates with advanced theoretical, methodological and analytical skills, enabling them to conduct independent, innovative and impactful research, generate new scientific knowledge and contribute to the continued development of the field. Through close academic supervision, critical inquiry and active participation in a dynamic research environment, candidates have the opportunity to work at the forefront of their chosen research areas. The programme encourages research engagement with contemporary issues such as sustainable tourism development, innovation, destination management, hospitality operations, tourism policy, consumer behaviour and the broader socio-economic impacts of tourism.

Graduates of the programme are prepared for careers in universities, research institutions, public and private organisations, and tourism and hospitality enterprises in Cyprus and internationally. Through their expertise and research contributions, they support scientific development, innovation, sustainable tourism growth and the advancement of knowledge-based practices within the sector.

Key Features

Intended Learning Outcomes

The outcomes below are expressed qualitatively as the doctoral-level research competences the programme is designed to develop, derived from the Department's research aims. They are framed as Knowledge, Skills and Competences and should be read as indicative; formally approved learning outcomes are maintained by the Department.

Upon successful completion of the PhD programme in Hospitality and Tourism Management, doctoral candidates will be able to:

• demonstrate systematic and in-depth knowledge of the international literature, theoretical foundations and research methodologies in the fields of tourism and hospitality management, as well as in related or interdisciplinary areas;
• apply advanced qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research approaches appropriate to their specific research areas;
• design, organise and conduct original, independent and high-quality scholarly research that contributes to the advancement of knowledge;
• critically evaluate, analyse and interpret new research findings and evidence, contributing to the generation of original scientific knowledge;
• demonstrate advanced understanding of theories, contemporary approaches and research methods in tourism management, hospitality and hotel management;
• develop innovative research approaches and propose solutions to complex scientific, managerial and professional challenges;
• apply the principles of research ethics, academic integrity and responsible research conduct, particularly in studies involving vulnerable groups;
• demonstrate leadership in the development of research proposals and the preparation of applications for national and international research funding programmes;
• effectively communicate research findings through presentations at international conferences, academic events, and engage in the coordination of scientific discussions;
• publish research outcomes in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and communicate knowledge effectively to both academic audiences and relevant stakeholders.

Knowledge

• Command of the theoretical foundations, key debates and current research frontiers of tourism and hospitality management.
• Critical understanding of advanced research design and of qualitative and quantitative methodologies as applied to tourism and hospitality phenomena.
• Awareness of the social, environmental and economic dimensions and externalities of tourism, and of the policy and development context within which the sector operates.

Skills

• Ability to formulate original, significant research questions and to design and execute a substantive, methodologically sound research project independently.
• Ability to collect, analyse and interpret data using appropriate quantitative and qualitative techniques and research software.
• Ability to communicate research findings to academic and professional audiences in writing and orally, including through peer-reviewed publication and conference presentation, in English.

Competences

• Capacity to operate as an autonomous, ethically responsible researcher, managing a complex, long-term project to completion.
• Capacity to make an original contribution to knowledge that withstands the scrutiny of expert peer review and a public defence.
• Readiness to take on leadership and expert advisory roles in academia, research, policy and the tourism and hospitality industry.

Programme Coordinator

Associate Professor Sotiroula Liasidou

sotiroula.liasidou@cut.ac.cy

25002196