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Office OBS 8.04
Tel +64 3 479 4293
Email susan.hougemackenzie@otago.ac.nz

BackgroundSusan Houge Mackenzie webpage photo

Susan joined the department in 2017. Her research integrates psychology and tourism by developing and applying positive psychology theories, such as flow, self-determination theory, and reversal theory, to adventure tourism, sport, recreation, and education contexts.

Her primary research focuses on:

  • Links between nature-based adventure and well-being for tourists, recreationalists, tourism guides, and/or host communities.
  • Links between outdoor adventure and motivation in physical activity and science education.
  • The regenerative tourism movement in Aotearoa, particularly in relation to community well-being
  • Translational research that applies theoretical developments into practical applications for the tourism industry.
  • Mixed methods (e.g. qualitative research, survey research, autoethnography, stimulated recall using head-mounted cameras)

Susan was previously a tourism practitioner in a diverse range of tourism industry roles globally (e.g. adventure guiding, tourism consulting) and she has worked alongside regional tourism organisations seeking to embrace regenerative planning and management processes.

Her applied projects include mental skill training workshops, developing management guidelines for adventure tourism operations, and consulting with government, non-profit, and tourism agencies, such as New Zealand riverboarding, the United States Forest Service, New Zealand Ministry of Tourism, and the History Channel. She serves on advisory boards for Tourism Central Otago, the Adventure Tourism Research Association, and the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership.

Learn more about Susan's research and projects:

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Susan_Houge_Mackenzie

Her work currently focuses on: nature-based adventure and well-being for tourists, guides, and hosts; regenerative tourism in Aotearoa; and refining the flow model of optimal experience. Susan's research seeks to translating theoretical developments into practical applications. Applications include using outdoor adventure to promote physical activity and science education; developing risk management frameworks and guide training for adventure tourism; mental skill training for youth athletes; and consulting with government, non-profit, and tourism agencies. She serves in advisory roles with the Central Otago Tourism Advisory Board, the Adventure Tourism Research Association, and the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, and as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership.

Publications

Luong, A., Lee, C., & Houge Mackenzie, S. (2024). Motivation of tourism lifestyle entrepreneurs: A self-determination theory perspective. In R. Hallak & C. Lee (Eds.), Handbook of tourism entrepreneurship. (pp. 87-101). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9781803920023.00014 Chapter in Book - Research

Houge Mackenzie, S., & Brymer, E. (2024). Conceptualizing adventurous nature sport: A positive psychology perspective. In R. Melo, D. Van Rheenen & S. Gammon (Eds.), Nature sports: Concepts and practice. (pp. 79-91). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. Chapter in Book - Other

Pung, J. M., Houge Mackenzie, S., & Lovelock, B. (2024). Regenerative tourism: Perceptions and insights from tourism destination planners in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 32, 100874. doi: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2024.100874 Journal - Research Article

Kondja, A., Filep, S., Houge Mackenzie, S., Lo, A., & Vada, S. (2024). Exploring the psychological well-being of tourism community members through the lens of self-determination theory: A case study of Queenstown, New Zealand. Tourism Analysis, 29(1), 1-16. doi: 10.3727/108354223X16898473535094 Journal - Research Article

Houge Mackenzie, S., Boudreau, P., & Hodge, K. (2023). Evaluating a model of flow and clutch optimal psychological states in adventure recreation. Leisure Sciences. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/01490400.2023.2261917 Journal - Research Article

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