Dr Daniel Wright

Daniel’s PhD research explored perceptions and attitudes of a local community towards tourism in a post-disaster scenario. His research focused on the local community of L’Aquila, Italy which was devastated by an earthquake in April 2009. His research interests in post-disaster tourism continued after his PhD where he continues to publish and make contributions to knowledge. Daniel also attends and participates in international workshops and he has presented at a range of international conferences. He also teaches across the school at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, whilst supervising current students carrying out their PhD research.

Daniel was an undergraduate international tourism management student at the UCLan between 2005 and 2009, graduating with a first class honours degree and wining the Victor Middleton Prize for most outstanding student performance. During his degree Daniel also undertook a work placement at Disney World Florida, USA for eight months and a four month placement at the Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hall Hotel & Spa. In his final academic year Daniel participated on an international study visit to Kenya. Daniel’s travel opportunities throughout his degree inspired him to take a gap year, in which he travelled around South America. During his time in South America he worked at an eco-hostel in Argentina, explored tributaries of the Amazon in Bolivia, experienced the Rio De Janeiro Carnival in Brazil, whilst also visiting some of the worlds wonders, such as the Machu Picchu in Peru, the Sal de Uyuni in Bolivia and the Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil. In 2010 Daniel commenced his PhD research at the University of Central Lancashire. In 2009 the city of L’Aquila, Italy was struck by a devastating earthquake. The city of L’Aquila drew tourists interested in seeing the earthquakes devastating impacts. UCLan specialises in Dark Tourism research and with Daniel being half Italian, and holding ties to the city of L’Aquila, he decided this would be the focus and the case study location for his PhD research. Over a four-year period, Daniel conducted research in and around the city of L’Aquila, here interviewing local residents’ to understand their perceptions to tourist in a post-disaster scenario; completing his PhD in 2014. In 2012 Daniel joined the teaching team at UCLan, teaching mainly across tourism, hospitality and events courses. Daniel teaches on a range of foundational, undergraduate and postgraduate modules, whilst also supervising PhD students. He has also delivered modules via online teaching in the UK and to partner institutions in China. Daniel has organised and participated in international study visits for students to a range of domestic and international destinations. Daniel has a passion for research and continues to publish widely in the subject areas of tourism, hospitality and events. Daniel has a strong interest in exploring the future of travel and leisure industries and how they could evolve and change over time by exploring current developments and changes in our social and natural environment. Daniel has also presented his research at a range of international conferences within the UK, the Netherlands, Peru and Thailand.