Tell us about your research!
– My name is Jordi Vegas-Macias, and I am a PhD Fellow at Roskilde University in Denmark. I have an interdisciplinary background in cultural geography and environmental sociology, with a strong focus on tourism studies. I approach tourism from multiple perspectives, drawing on various theoretical frameworks. I use practice theory, performativity, and governance theories to examine tourism both within and beyond its conventional boundaries. I am also familiar with actor-network theory and mobilities studies. These perspectives allow me to analyze tourism at both micro and macro levels, exploring its impacts, tensions, and development dynamics within specific settings and contexts, as well as the ways societies and environments adapt or respond to these changes. My goal as a researcher is to deepen our understanding of tourism as an interdisciplinary and multidimensional socio-environmental phenomenon while producing knowledge that contributes to positive societal impact.
In my previous research, I have focused on coastal governance, cultural heritage, and tourism development in Portugal and Malta. Using action-research and practice theory, I have investigated how natural and cultural resources are connected to—and sometimes misused by—tourism development. These experiences equipped me with strong research skills, particularly in ethnographic fieldwork, and bottom-up methodologies for co-creating knowledge with participants.
My current PhD project examines the relationship between tourism and host communities in urban environments. Specifically, I conduct a multilevel analysis to explore the dynamics of value co-creation between tourists and residents in practice, and how these interactions are mediated by the tourism industry and shaped by discourses and narratives. Using Copenhagen as my empirical case, I aim to uncover underlying processes, conflicts, and tensions between residents and tourists, while shedding light on the unintended consequences of tourism development that may affect residents' everyday lives in popular urban destinations.
Why did you want to come here to our department?
– The first time I heard about the Department of Service Studies was at the Nordic Symposium of Tourism Research in Östersund, Sweden. I vividly remember attending the same parallel sessions as some of the researchers from the tourism group and being inspired by several presentations that closely aligned with my own research interests. That experience stayed with me. When the opportunity for a research exchange arose, I had both personal recommendations and a strong desire to come to Lund University, given its renowned profile in sustainability studies. Upon revisiting the department’s profile, I immediately recognized many researchers whose work I found strongly connected to mine and whom I wanted to meet and engage with. I didn’t think twice about choosing the Department of Service Studies for my exchange.
What experience have you gained from visiting us these months?
– First, the exchange helped me develop as a researcher by allowing me to engage with an interdisciplinary group that not only focuses on tourism but also explores topics that intersect with tourism in various ways. At the same time, being in close contact with tourism researchers who “speak my language” has been incredibly refreshing. I have had the opportunity to discuss concepts, theories, and approaches relevant to my PhD work, which has provided me with a continuous flow of stimulating discussions and learning opportunities from scholars with diverse perspectives on tourism.
Second, I had the chance to participate in various seminars, guest lectures, and workshops across different research groups and courses in some of the master’s program. These experiences allowed me to meet and connect with more people while also learning about other research environments and teaching approaches at a different university and in another country.
Finally, the most rewarding part of this experience has been the people I have met along the way. For me, research is fundamentally about collaboration and the exchange of ideas, and connecting with new colleagues has been invaluable. Although my research exchange has come to an end, I see this as the beginning of meaningful connections and future collaborations with researchers who share my passion and commitment to advancing knowledge in our field.
What will you do in 2025?
– Next year promises to be both exciting and busy, as I enter the final year of my PhD journey. My focus will be on completing my second and third manuscripts, as well as writing the overarching framework of my thesis. It will also be an eventful year, as I plan to attend several tourism-related conferences in Denmark, Spain, and the UK, which means there will be quite a bit of traveling ahead. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire Department of Service Studies for the warm welcome and for hosting me during this time and hopefully we will meet in 2025 again!
