Gold Coast PhD scholar to explore generational influences on holiday choices

Southport resident Sarah Gardiner is among 27 of Australia’s top research students who will take up Smart Futures PhD scholarships at universities across the state in 2009.

Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said the Queensland Government scholarships award each postgraduate $22,500 over three years for full-time research in varied disciplines.

Sarah, who will be studying at Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus, will investigate how consumer behaviours vary between different generational cohorts and hopefully use her research to improve destination marketing.

“My study will aim to identify the behavioural traits of the Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y and examine how these behaviours influence decision making processes when planning a holiday,” she said.

“I will also be looking to see what role technology, and in particular social networking among Gen Y, plays in affecting destination choices.”

Ms Boyle said other projects undertaken by the PhD scholarship-holders will include climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, skin cancer treatment, obesity intervention, developing new learning methods, improving police investigative practices and the effects of aerosols on rainfall.

“While Brisbane universities will host seventeen of the scholarship-holders, the other ten will study at universities across the state from James Cook University in Townsville to Griffith University on the Gold Coast.

“Scholarships foster innovation in Queensland’s research and development sector, helping to build the foundations for a sustainable state-wide research community.

“This in turn plays a key role in our economic prosperity and social advancement.

“Queensland has a reputation for building world-class R&D infrastructure and now there is a push to attract leading researchers too.

Member for Southport Peter Lawlor said Sarah should be very proud of her achievements and wished her luck with her PhD over the next three years.

“With the current economic crisis impacting on a wide range of industries including tourism, any research that could potentially help lure holiday-makers to the Gold Coast will be a benefit.”

Ms Boyle added that during the past 10 years the Queensland Government has invested $3.4 billion in 36 new research institutes and more than 230 research scholarships and fellowships.”

“The four-year $120 million Smart State Strategy, launched in 2008 and incorporating the Smart Futures scholarships, will boost science and industry’s capacity to solve problems through research, innovation and key partnerships across public and private sectors.

“The 28 scholarship-holders are to be congratulated on their success, given the calibre of applications received, and I look forward to the outcome of their research.”

12 February, 2009


Media contact: Marcus Taylor 3225 1005/0419 025 326 or Zoe Russell 3224 2007/0437 436 914
2009


Griffith University: Fiona Taylor 3735 6741

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