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College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University

Dr. Minkyung (Min) Park
PhD, Texas A&M University
Associate Professor
Academic Program Coordinator, Tourism and Events Management

Contact Information

Send email to Dr. Park

Phone: (703) 993-7194
Fax: (703) 993-3988
Email: mparka (@gmu.edu)

George Mason University
Fairfax Campus
Krug Hall 211E
4400 University Dr.
MS 4D2
Fairfax, VA 22030

Profile

Dr. Park is an Associate Professor of Tourism and Events Management. Her research encompasses the areas of sustainability, tourism and its interactions with other societal phenomena such as sharing economy, social media, and international politics. Also, she has published a number of research papers in the areas of tourism growth issues and visitor/destination management in urban areas and rural communities. Partnering with various agencies nationally and internationally, she has conducted diverse research projects and produced over 90 publications in a combination of journal articles, book chapters, professional presentations and conference proceedings, and technical reports. Her expertise on global and international tourism has been featured in several media interviews with CGTN, USA Today, Vocie of America-Russia. Since 2012, she has taken several administrative positions in the Provost Office including Acting Assistant Vice President for International Campus Operations and Dean of Administration at George Mason University Korea - Mason's international campus in Incheon, South Korea. In her 8 years of working in the Provost Office, she managed numerous successful international collaborations with foreign educational institutions including overseeing summer study abroad programs and establishing cooperative agreements and MOUs. 

She received a 2022-2023 Fulbright U.S. Scholar award. 

Before she joined George Mason University in 2006, she served as a research manager with the Maryland Office of Tourism Development (OTD) where she managed a variety of research projects, and developed a number of research analyses and technical reports.

Publicity

Voice of America - Russia (Jan. 4, 2022). USA Today (November 10, 2021), LawnStarter (September 28, 2021), The George (May 3, 2021), Wallethub (March 9, 2021), MoneyGeek (Feb 2, 2022), CGTN (July 17, 2020; March 25, 2020; Feb. 20, 2020)

Research Interests
  • International tourism
  • Tourism growth issues and sustainability
  • Interplay of tourism with other societal phenomena
  • Experiential education
  • Destination management and visitor experience 
  • The sharing economy and new tourism demand
  • Social and cultural impacts of tourism
  • Cultural and heritage tourism
  • Alternative tourism
  • Globalization and Higher Education
  • International Education
Recent Publications

Park, M., & Daniels, M. (2022). The impact of tour bus cruising and idling on greenhouse gas emissions, Current Issues in Tourismhttps://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/WIBNSSHTJKT8JSPHHM6T/full?target=10.1080/13683500.2022.2105196

Park, M., & Jones, T. (2021). Going virtual: The impact of COVID-19 on internships in tourism, events, and hospitality education. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2021.1907198      

Jang, H., & Park, M. (2020). Social media, media, and urban transformation in the context of overtourism. International Journal of Tourism Cities, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 233-260. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-08-2019-0145 

Park, M. (2019). The sharing economy, regulations, and the role of local government. International Journal of Tourism Cities, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 158-174. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-08-2019-0122

Daniels, M., Harmon L., Barrow M., Vese, R., & Brayley R.E., Park, M. (2019). Honor Flight: Recognition of preeminent-mature tourists. Annals of Tourism Research, 74(January): 95-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.10.006

Park, M., Derrien, M., Geczi, E., & Stolowski, P.A. (2019). Grappling with Growth: Perceptions of development and preservation in faster- and slower-growing amenity communities. Society & Natural Resources. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2018.1501527

Cicchetti, K., & Park, M. (2018). Student affairs and offshore branch campuses: A case study of practitioner experiences. Journal of College Student Development, 59 (2). doi:10.1353/csd.2018.0021.

Daniels, M., Harmon L., Barrow M., Vese, R., Park, M., & Brayley R.E. (2018). Spatial dynamics of tour bus transport within urban destinations. Tourism Management, 64 (February): 129-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.08.007

Daniels, M., Harmon L., Barrow M., Park, M., & Brayley R.E., & Vese, R. (2015). Heritage tourism within a capital city: Symbolism and dissonance. Tourism Review International, 19: 1-18. 

Schiller, A., & Park, M. (2014). The international Campus as prototype for international collaboration: South Koreas Incheon Global Campus. Global Partners in Education Journal, 4(1): 33-40.

Daniels, M. J., Park, M., Harmon, L. & Brayley, R. (2013). Bridging risk management perceptions and processes: The case of the National Mall & Memorial Parks. International Journal of Culture, Tourism, and Hospitality Research, 7(2). 

Jang, E., Park, M., Park, H. (2012). Tourist’s appleal type for international tourism promotional photos of Korea. Korea Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research: Korea Tourism Research Association, 26(6): 23-38.

Park, M., & Oh, C-O. (2011). Exploring influential factors that explain the probability of visiting a destination: The case of state travel information inquiry groups. Tourism Analysis, 16 (6): 693-700.

Harmon, L., Daniels, M. J., Park, M., & Brayley, R. (2011). Is a nations front yard becoming a dumping ground?  A critical analysis of greenspace within the United States National Mall & Memorial Parks. Journal of Tourism and Leisure Studies, 17 (2): 269-291.

Park, M., & Stokowski, P.A. (2011). Casino gaming and crime: Comparisons among gaming counties and other tourism places. Journal of Travel Research, 50 (3): 289-302.

Park, J., Lee, G., & Park, M. (2011). Service quality dimensions perceived by film festival Visitors. Event Management, 15: 49 - 61.

Park, M., Daniels, M., Brayley, R., & Harmon, L. (2010). An analysis of service provision and visitor impacts using participant observation and photographic documentation: The National Cherry Blossom  Festival. Event Management, 14 (2):167-182.

Park, M., Oh, H., & Park, J. (2010). Measuring the experience economy of film festival participants. International Journal of Tourism Sciences, 10 (2): 35-54.

Park, M., & Stokowski, P. A. (2009). Social disruption theory and crime in rural communities: Comparisons across three levels of tourism growth. Tourism Management, 30 (6): 905-915.