Haozhe Han
Master of International Tourism Management
Graduate Diploma in International Tourism Management
How can tourism providers deliver better services for Chinese tourists with disabilities? That’s the interesting topic Haozhe Han explored for his Master of International Tourism Management.
“My master’s degree thesis explored a supply perspective of accessibility requirements of inbound Chinese tourists with disabilities to New Zealand. The research examined how the tourism industry can best meet the accessibility requirements of tourists with disabilities from the perspective of accessible tourism service providers, and analysed Chinese outbound tour operators’ websites accessibility and the information on providing accessibility information for Chinese tourists with disabilities who are travelling to New Zealand.
“I chose this topic because there is a clear gap in existing research. Most tourism services and activities are designed for people without disabilities, and New Zealand research to date has so far largely focused on stakeholder or demand perspectives rather than on how suppliers deliver accessible services. At the same time, China is the third-largest source of international tourists to New Zealand, and China has a rapidly ageing population. By the end of 2023, people aged 60 and above accounted for an estimated 21.1% of the population. My research offers practical recommendations for both New Zealand accessible tourism providers and Chinese outbound tour operators to enable greater participation of tourists with disabilities in travel activities.”
Haozhe’s master’s degree research was supervised by Professor Alison McIntosh and Dr Brielle Gillovic. After recently graduating from AUT, he is now in the process of applying for a PhD to take his research even further.
An enjoyable research journey
Initially drawn to AUT because of the excellent reputation of its tourism programmes, Haozhe says he thoroughly enjoyed the research process.
“Reading the academic literature has always been the most rewarding part of my learning, as each book or article brings new knowledge and insights, broadening my understanding of the accessible tourism field. The process of writing my thesis was also extremely valuable, despite at times being challenging and requiring repeated revisions. This lengthy and occasionally pressured journey taught me that mistakes are an inevitable part of learning, and each revision made my arguments clearer and more critical.”
He is grateful for the support from his supervisors throughout the research journey.
“The constructive feedback from my supervisors, Professor Alison McIntosh and Dr Brielle Gillovic, helped me a lot throughout my master’s degree. Their comments and guidance enabled me to identify research gaps, strengthen my logic and progressively enhance the quality of my thesis. I’d also like to express my warmest gratitude to Alison and Brielle for giving the opportunity to publish my research findings in the Journal of Hospitality Insights and to include the research within the Tourism for All NZ Research Group.”
Highly recommended
Haozhe, who came to AUT as an international student from China, says he wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Master of International Tourism Management to other students.
“I’d definitely recommend this programme to others. The international tourism management programme at AUT is taught by a dedicated and knowledgeable academic team that offers strong guidance throughout the learning journey. What I appreciated most was the practical nature of the knowledge and skills covered in the programme, which was closely aligned with the current situation in the tourism industry. It doesn’t just build a solid theoretical foundation but also encourages students to apply their learning to real-world scenarios, which is extremely valuable for all tourism professionals seeking development.”
His advice to other students is simple: develop your self-confidence.
“I used to be quite shy, often feeling nervous when expressing my thoughts or communicating with others. Over my years at AUT, I gradually grew more self-confident. I stopped fearing that my ideas might be wrong or wondering if my thesis would pass. Instead, I learned to trust myself, valuing each stage of growth, accepting mistakes as part of the learning process and persisting in my efforts. This transformation has profoundly impacted both my academic and personal development.”
