Dr. Knight
Dubbed “Mr. Positivity” (but without the coffee mug to prove it), Dr. David W. Knight has developed a unique transnational skill set in tourism research and education while living and working in the U.S., Spain, the Philippines, Peru, Mexico, and China. He has worked with esteemed collaborators to publish research in several of the world’s top tourism journals, exploring and informing linkages between tourism and development with a focus on community empowerment, poverty alleviation, and destination resilience.
As a Center for Collaborative Conservation Fellow, and former Assistant Professor and Associate Professor (Affiliate) in both Colorado and China, David’s projects analyze diverse natural resource tourism issues for organizations operating from local to international levels. He has received funding from agencies like the U.S. Department of State and the Army Corps of Engineers, with project findings informing destination development pertaining to National Parks, Chinese tourist behavior, marine protected areas, UNESCO World Heritage sites (e.g., Machu Picchu), and institutional fortification (e.g., indigenous tourism associations, international business operations, etc.).
Based in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University, David is co-Director of the U.S.-China Tourism Lab for Destination Development alongside his venerable colleague, Dr. Lina Xiong.
