{"id":360787,"date":"2026-07-04T06:34:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T06:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/360787\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T06:34:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T06:34:17","slug":"texas-am-doctoral-student-earns-prestigious-tourism-research-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/360787\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas A&M doctoral student earns prestigious tourism research award"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hyunrae Kim, a doctoral student in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences<\/a> Arch H. Aplin III \u201980 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism,<\/a>\u00a0is the winner of the Travel and Tourism Research Association\u2019s, TTRA<\/a>, J. Desmond Slattery Award for 2026.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>Hyunrae Kim holds the 2026 J. Desmond Slattery Award presented by the Travel and Tourism Research Association during its International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina. The award recognizes outstanding master\u2019s and doctoral student research in tourism and supports completion of a thesis or dissertation. (Mike Kierstead\/Travel and Tourism Research Association)<\/p>\n

The Slattery Award<\/a> was presented at TTRA\u2019s 56th annual International Conference, held June 24-26 in Greenville, South Carolina. <\/p>\n

The award carries a $4,000 prize, a plaque and complimentary registration to the TTRA International Conference. It is awarded annually to a master\u2019s or doctoral student to assist with the completion of a thesis or dissertation.<\/p>\n

Putting residents at the center of tourism research<\/p>\n

Kim\u2019s dissertation examines how residents psychologically perceive their own communities as tourist destinations and how those perceptions shape their attachment to a place and their willingness to support local tourism development.<\/p>\n

\u201cResidents are an important stakeholder in tourism, but previous research has often mainly focused on tourists,\u201d Kim said. \u201cTourists are the primary consumers of the tourism experience, and their perceptions directly influence destination choice, satisfaction and loyalty. However, if we only focus on tourists, we may miss how residents understand and support, or sometimes resist, tourism development.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her research draws on her undergraduate background in regional development, marketing and promotion, which sparked her curiosity about why so much of the academic literature overlooked the resident perspective.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of those studies were mainly focused on tourists,\u201d she said. \u201cI got curious about why researchers were not studying residents, because residents are important to creating a destination.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead<\/p>\n

Kim, a native of South Korea, chose Texas A&M University<\/a> specifically to work with John Crompton, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor and associate department head, whom she described as a legend in the tourism industry and a mentor who has guided her far beyond academics.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is my academic advisor, but also a life advisor,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Crompton is Kim\u2019s dissertation committee chair and encouraged her to submit her research proposal for the award.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Crompton recommended I submit the proposal because he thought this research is very valuable and very competitive compared to others,\u201d Kim said. \u201cI was happy to submit it.\u201d<\/p>\n

She plans to defend her dissertation proposal next semester, collect more data and graduate in 2027. Kim hopes to pursue a faculty position and draw on her experience as a graduate teaching assistant to guide future tourism and hospitality students.<\/p>\n


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