Top of page

Student/Staff Portal
Global Site Navigation

School of Business and Law

Local Section Navigation
You are here: Main Content
  • Professor Ross Dowling

    Professor Ross Dowling

Related Contents

Honorary Professor Ross Dowling

Emeritus Professor

Staff Member Details
Email: r.dowling@ecu.edu.au

Honorary Professor Ross Dowling is the Foundation Professor of Tourism in the School of Business and Law.

Background

Honorary Professor Ross Dowling AM is the Foundation Professor of Tourism in the School of Business and Law. He has held a number of other positions in Australian universities and immediately prior to joining ECU he was a Foundation Lecturer, then Senior Lecturer at The University of Notre Dame Australia. At ECU he has held many positions including Chair, Tourism Program, Head, School of Marketing, Tourism & Leisure, Associate Head, School of Business, and Director, MBA and Cross Disciplinary Studies.

Honorary Professor Dowling actively contributes to Tourism Research and Development in a number of capacities around the world, especially in the areas of Geotourism, Cruise Ship Tourism, Ecotourism and Tourism Planning & Development. He is an international speaker on tourism, providing advice for the industry in a number of countries around the world.

Ross has also completed two lecture tours on Ecotourism and Geotourism for the Chinese Government throughout China, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as having developed a Sustainable Tourism Development Plan for the Ministry of Tourism in the Sultanate of Oman. He recently also conducted a summer school for the University of Iceland on Geotourism and Geoparks and is currently working on tourism development in both Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.

Professional and Industry Associations

  • 2016 - Vice President, Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia
  • 2016 - Ambassador, Western Australia Parks Foundation
  • 2016 - Member, Conservation & Parks Commission of Western Australia
  • 2015 - Squad Patron, Western Australia Police Academy
  • 2014 – Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors

Awards and recognition

  • 2016 - Edith Cowan University Vice Chancellor’s Award – Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
  • 2014 – Life Member, Ecotourism Australia
  • 2013 – Life Member, Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco Tourism
  • 2013 – Edith Cowan University Dean’s Award for Higher Degrees and Research Supervision
  • 2011 – Medal of the Order of Australia [OAM] – for service to the hospitality and tourism industry, education and the development of ecotourism
  • 2011 – National Trust McLarty Award – for support and contribution to the National Trust of WA
  • 2010 – Edith Cowan University Vice Chancellor’s Award – for Engagement in Learning and Teaching

Research areas and interests

  • Geotourism and geoparks development, sustainability, impacts and opportunities
  • Cruise Ship Tourism development, growth and industry impacts
  • Ecotourism planning, development, management and impacts
  • Regional tourism planning and development

Qualifications

  • Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, Other TAS registered training organisation, 2012.
  • Graduate Diploma of Educational Administration, Deakin University, 1994.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Murdoch University, 1993.
  • Diploma for Recreation & Sport, New Zealand, 1980.
  • Diploma in Teaching, New Zealand, 1978.
  • Teachers College Diploma with Distinction, New Zealand, 1976.
  • Master of Science with Honours in Geography, New Zealand, 1975.
  • Bachelor of Science in Geology, New Zealand, 1973.

Research Outputs

2023

Journal Articles

  • Esfandiar, K., Pearce, J., Dowling, R., Goh, E. (2023). The extended theory of planned behaviour model and national parks visitors' pro-environmental binning behaviour: A cross cultural perspective. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 42(June 2023), Article number 100602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2022.100602.

2022

Journal Articles

  • Newsome, D., Ladd, P., Dowling, R. (2022). The Scope for Geotourism Based on Regolith in Southwestern Australia—a Theoretical and Practical Perspective. Geoheritage, 14(1), Article number 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00632-1.
  • Pearce, J., Huang, S., Dowling, R., Smith, AJ. (2022). Effects of social and personal norms, and connectedness to nature, on pro-environmental behavior: A study of Western Australian protected area visitors. Tourism Management Perspectives, 42(April 2022), article number 100966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.100966.
  • Esfandiar, K., Pearce, J., Dowling, R., Goh, E. (2022). Pro-environmental behaviours in protected areas: A systematic literature review and future research directions. Tourism Management Perspectives, 41(January 2022), article number 100943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.100943.
  • Briggs, A., Newsome, D., Dowling, R. (2022). A proposed governance model for the adoption of geoparks in Australia. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 10(1), 160-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2021.12.001.

2021

Journal Articles

  • Briggs, A., Dowling, R., Newsome, D. (2021). Geoparks – learnings from Australia. Journal of Tourism Futures, 2021(Article in Press), 15p.. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-11-2020-0204.
  • Dowling, R., Pforr, C. (2021). Geotourism - a sustainable development option for Namibia. Journal of Ecotourism, 20(4), 371-385. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2021.1910699.
  • Esfandiar, K., Dowling, R., Pearce, J., Goh, E. (2021). What a load of rubbish! The efficacy of theory of planned behaviour and norm activation model in predicting visitors’ binning behaviour in national parks. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 46(March 2021), 304-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2021.01.001.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Esfandiar, K., Dowling, R., Pearce, J., Goh, E. (2020). Personal norms and the adoption of pro-environmental binning behaviour in national parks: an integrated structural model approach. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(1), 10-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1663203.
  • Huang, S., Pearce, J., Wen, J., Dowling, R., Smith, AJ. (2020). Segmenting Western Australian national park visitors by perceived benefits: A factor-item mixed approach. International Journal of Tourism Research, 22(6), 814-824. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2382.

2019

Journal Articles

  • Pearce, J., Dowling, R. (2019). Monitoring the quality of the visitor experience: An evolutionary journey. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 25(March 2019), 87-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2017.12.002.
  • Esfandiar, K., Pearce, J., Dowling, R. (2019). Personal norms and pro-environmental binning behaviour of visitors in national parks: the development of a conceptual framework. Tourism Recreation Research, 44(2), 163-177. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2019.1580936.

2018

Book Chapters

Journal Articles

2017

Book Chapters

  • Carter-James, A., Dowling, R. (2017). Guludo Beach Lodge and the Nema Foundation, Mozambique.. Social Entrepreneurship and Tourism: Philosophy and Practice (221 - 235). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46518-0_13.
  • Shibish, L., Dowling, R., Willson, G. (2017). Aboriginal tourism in Western Australia: A case study of Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park.. Indigenous Tourism: Cases from Australia and New Zealand (45 - 66). Goodfellow Publishers Ltd.

Journal Articles

  • Dowling, R., Newsome, D. (2017). Geotourism destinations - visitor impacts and site management considerations. Czech Journal of Tourism, 6(2), 111-129. https://doi.org/10.1515/cjot-2017–0006.
  • Ernawati, NM., Sanders, D., Dowling, R. (2017). Host-Guest orientations of community based tourism products: a case study in Bali, Indonesia. International Journal of Tourism Research, 19(3), 367-382. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2119.

2016

Journal Articles

2015

Book Chapters

  • Dowling, R. (2015). Geotourism's contribution to sustainable tourism. The Practice of Sustainable Tourism: Resolving the paradox (207-227). Routledge.
  • Ernawati, NM., Dowling, R., Sanders, D. (2015). Tourists' perceptions of community-based tourism products for sustainable tourism in Bali, Indonesia. The Practice of Sustainable Tourism: Resolving the paradox (95-112). Routledge.

Journal Articles

  • Allan, M., Dowling, R., Sanders, D. (2015). The motivations for visiting geosites: the case of Crystal Cave, Western Australia. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 16(2), 141-152.
  • Escorihuela, J., Dowling, R. (2015). Analysis of the geotouristic activity in the geologic park of Aliaga, Spain: Progress, threats and challenges for the future. Geoheritage, 7(3), 299-306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-014-0137-5.

2014

Book Chapters

Journal Articles

  • Hurtado, H., Dowling, R., Sanders, D. (2014). An Exploratory Study to Develop a Geotourism Typology Model. International Journal of Tourism Research, 16(6), 608-613. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.1954.
  • Norrish, L., Sanders, D., Dowling, R. (2014). Geotourism product development and stakeholder perceptions: a case study of a proposed geotrail in Perth, Western Australia. Journal of Ecotourism, 13(1), 52-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2014.938654.
  • Ólafsdóttir, R., Dowling, R. (2014). Geotourism and Geoparks—A Tool for Geoconservation and Rural Development in Vulnerable Environments: A Case Study from Iceland. Geoheritage, 6(1), 71 - 87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-013-0095-3.

2013

Books

  • Newsome, D., Moore, S., Dowling, R. (2013). Natural Area Tourism: Ecology, Impacts and Management. Aspects of Tourism, 457. Channel View Publications.

Book Chapters

  • Dowling, R. (2013). The History of Ecotourism. International Handbook on Ecotourism (15 - 30). Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Dowling, R. (2013). Nautical Tourism in the Pacific. Nautical Tourism (189 - 200). CABI. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780642444.0189.
  • Klein, R., Bozic, K., Dowling, R., Gibson, P., Grzetic, Z., Haahti, A., Horack, S., Lukovic, T., Papathanassis, A., Pekkala, S. (2013). Opportunities for market development of nautical tourism in Europe. Nautical tourism (201 - 224). CABI. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780642444.0201.

Journal Articles

2012

Journal Articles

  • Newsome, D., Dowling, R., Leung, Y. (2012). The nature and management of geotourism: A case study of two established iconic geotourism destinations. Tourism Management Perspectives, 2(3), 19-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2011.12.009.

2011

Journal Articles

2010

Book Chapters

  • Newsome, D., Dowling, R. (2010). Setting an Agenda for Geotourism. Geotourism: The Tourism of Geology and Landscape (1-12). Goodfellow Publishers Limited.
  • Dowling, R. (2010). Emerging volcano and geothermal related tourism in Iceland. Volcano and geothermal tourism: Sustainable geo-resources for leisure and recreation (209-220). Earthscan.
  • Dowling, R., Newsome, D. (2010). The future of geotourism: Where to from here?. Geotourism: The Tourism of Geology and Landscape (231-244). Goodfellow Publishers Limited.
  • Dowling, R., Newsome, D. (2010). Geotourism: A Global Activity. Global Geotourism Perspectives (1-17). Goodfellow Publishers Limited.
  • Newsome, D., Dowling, R. (2010). Geotourism: Opportunity and Tourism Significance. Global Geotourism Perspectives (230-247). Goodfellow Publishers Limited.

2009

Book Chapters

  • Felix, A., Dowling, R., Ganeshasundaram, R. (2009). Small and Medium Coastal Tourism Enterprises: A Case Study of Galle District, Sri Lanka. Coastal Tourism Development (307-320). Cognizant Communication Corporation.
  • Pforr, C., Dowling, R. (2009). Coastal tourism development: planning and managing growth. Coastal Tourism Development (3-14). Cognizant Communication Corporation.
  • Dowling, R., Pforr, C. (2009). Coastal Tourism Development: Issues and Challenges. Coastal Tourism Development (345-369). Cognizant Communication Corporation.

Journal Articles

  • Nguyen, I., Robinson, A., Dowling, R. (2009). Potential Geotourists: An Australian Case Study. Journal of Tourism, X(1), 71-80.
  • Smith, A., Scherrer, P., Dowling, R. (2009). Impacts on Aboriginal spirituality and culture from tourism in the coastal waterways of the Kimberley region, North West Australia. Journal of Ecotourism, 8(2), 82-98.

Conference Publications

  • Scherrer, P., Smith, A., Dowling, R. (2009). Expedition cruising in Australia: proactive steps towards change for sustainability. Proceedings of the 18th Annual CAUTHE Conference. See change: tourism and hospitality in a dynamic world (5p.). Council for Australasian University Tourism and Hospitality Education.

2008

Journal Articles

  • Dowling, R. (2008). The emergence of geotourism and geoparks. Journal of Tourism, 9(2), 227-236.

2007

Journal Articles

  • Dowling, R. (2007). Unique Australian Rocks: Geoheritage, geoparks and geotourism. Trust News Australia, 1(2), 18-19.

2006

Book Chapters

  • Newsome, D., Dowling, R. (2006). The Scope and Nature of Geotourism. Geotourism (3-25). Elsevier.
  • Dowling, R., Bauer, T. (2006). The Antarctic Cruise Industry. Cruise Ship Tourism (195-205). CABI.
  • Dowling, R., Newsome, D. (2006). Geotourism's Issues and Challenges. Geotourism (242-254). Elsevier.
  • Dowling, R. (2006). The Cruising Industry. Cruise Ship Tourism (3-17). CABI.
  • Dowling, R. (2006). Looking Ahead: The Future of Cruising. Cruise Ship Tourism (414-434). CABI.

Conference Publications

  • Scherrer, P., Smith, A., Dowling, R. (2006). Managing Visitor Impacts along Australia's Remote Kimberley Coast - The Forgotten Dimension of Balancing Country. Exploring the Nature of Management: Proceedings of the third International Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitor Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas (410-411). University of Applied Sciences, Rapperswill.

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • Dowling, R., Newsome, D. (2006). Preface - Geotourism. Geotourism. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.
  • Dowling, R. (2006). Preface - Cruise ship tourism edited by Ross K Dowling. Cruise ship tourism. CABI Publishing.

2005

Books

  • Newsome, D., Dowling, R., Moore, S. (2005). Wildlife Tourism. Channel View Publications.

2004

Book Chapters

  • Dowling, R. (2004). An ecotourism plan for the Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. Ecotourism management and assessment (323-336). Thomson Learning.
  • Dowling, R. (2004). Motivations of the environmental tourist. Tourist behaviour: A psychological perspective (167-186). Kanishka Publishers, Distributors.

2003

Book Chapters

  • Dowling, R., Fennell, D. (2003). The Context of Ecotourism Policy and Planning. Ecotourism Policy and Planning (1-20). CABI Publishing.
  • Dowling, R. (2003). Community Attitudes. Tourism in Destination Communities (205-228). CABI Publishing.
  • Timothy, DJ., Sing, S., Dowling, R. (2003). Understanding Tourism and Destination Communities. Tourism in Destination Communities (273-276). CABI Publishing.
  • Bauer, T., Dowling, R. (2003). Ecotourism policies and issues in Antarctica. Ecotourism Policy and Planning (309-329). CABI Publishing.
  • Dowling, R., Wood, J. (2003). Ecotourism Development in the Indian Ocean Region. Tourism and Economic Development (42-62). Ashgate Publishing.
  • Sing, S., Timothy, DJ., Dowling, R. (2003). Tourism and Destination Communities. Tourism in Destination Communities (3-17). CABI Publishing.
  • Fennell, D., Dowling, R. (2003). Ecotourism Policy & Planning: Stakeholders, Management and Governance. Ecotourism Policy and Planning (331-344). CABI Publishing.

2002

Books

  • Dowling, R., Page, S. (2002). Eco Tourism.. Prentice Hall, Pearson Education.
  • Dowling, R., Newsome, D., Moore, S. (2002). Natural Area Tourism: Ecology, Impacts and Management.. Channel View Publications..

Conference Publications

  • Dowling, R. (2002). Global Ecotourism.. Winds of Change -Creating Strategic Excellence. (). Edith Cowan University, WA.
  • Dowling, R. (2002). Community Attitudes to Tourism Development.. CAUTHE 2002 Conference (). CAUTHE & CRC Sustainable Tourism..

2001

Book Chapters

  • Dowling, R. (2001). Environmental Tourism. Special Interest Tourism (Context and Cases) (283-306). John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd.
  • Dowling, R. (2001). Oceania (Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific). the Encyclopedia of Ecotourism (139-154). CABI Publishing.

Journal Articles

  • Carlsen, J., Dowling, R. (2001). Regional Wine Tourism: A Plan for Development for Western Australia. Tourism Recreation Research, 26, 45-52.

Research Projects

  • Indigenous Tourism Development in Parks: What's its Place in Joint Management?, Department of Environment and Conservation WA, Nature-based Recreation & Tourism Research Award, 2013 ‑ 2014, $3,000.
  • Customer Service Standards: The Effects of Training Intervention on Rottnest Island, Rottnest Island Business Community Inc., Grant, 2009 ‑ 2010, $10,000.
  • Research Fellow - Sustainable Destinations, CRC Centre for Sustainable Tourism, Grant, 2006 ‑ 2009, $170,667.
  • Sustainable Wildlife Tourism Auditing Framework, Murdoch University, CRC - Grant, 2007 ‑ 2008, $1,600.
  • Tourism and the Kimberley waterways, CRC Centre for Sustainable Tourism, Grant, 2005 ‑ 2008, $65,000.
  • An assessment of the socio-economic impact of expanding Ningaloo Marine Park and the sanctuary zones within Ningaloo Marine Park on communities of the Gascoyne coast region of Western Australia, CRC Centre for Sustainable Tourism, Grant, 2005 ‑ 2008, $10,288.
  • Western Australian State Network Coordinator, CRC Centre for Sustainable Tourism, Grant, 2007 ‑ 2008, $20,000.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

No data available

Completed Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Understanding sustainable tourism development from a complex systems perspective: A case study fo the Swan river, Western Australia.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Toward better understanding of motivations for geotourism experience: A self-determination theory perspective.
  • Master of Tourism Management by Research, The business of trails
  • Master of Tourism by Research, Obstacles which significantly affect tourism development in jordan
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Producer-market orientation of community-based tourism (cbt) products: A case study in bali, Indonesia
  • Master of Tourism Management by Research, The evolution of joint management in Western Australian parks and the indigenous tourism nexus
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Family life and leisure in new zealand: Leisure and parenting in heterosexual couples during pregnancy and first- time parenthood in christchurch, new zealand
  • Master of Business by Research, Residents' perceptions of geotourism in qeshm island unesco global geopark, iran

Adjunct Supervisor

  • Master of Business by Research, Stakeholder perceptions of geopark establishment: An exploratory study of Rottnest Island, Western Australia as a potential geopark site
Skip to top of page