Postdoctoral Research Faculty (International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas)

Sociology of Leisure & Tourism

This week, Ira spoke with Marta Soligo, Postdoctoral Research Faculty (International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas), where she also teaches Sociology of Leisure & Tourism. In this leisurely episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Marta talks about how tourism mirrors society; why social media influences tourism; how tourism is evolving, with increasing demand for “off-the-beaten-path” adventures, authenticity, and sustainability; how some venues create “staged authenticity” to match tourists’ expectations without reflecting reality; the new collaboration between tourism boards and academia; and why she chose to come to Las Vegas, the “capital of tourism,” to research the sociology of tourism and obtain her PhD in sociology.

Tourist Marta Soligo works as a Postdoctoral Research Faculty for the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she also teaches Sociology of Leisure & Tourism. Moreover, she is a Visiting Professor of Sociology of Tourism at the Università degli Studi di Bergamo (Italy), for the master’s course in Planning and Management of Tourism Systems. Her most recent interests center around a variety of key topics in today’s travel market, such as sustainable development, popular culture, and the post-pandemic recovery. She has presented her works at several conferences by professional associations and international institutions, such as UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) and ASA (the American Sociological Association).