Affiliated Researchers

Pat Maher

Pat Maher is an Assistant Professor in the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Program at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada. His research interests focus on managing tourism by matching the mitigation of negative impacts with the improvement of visitor experience. Geographically his research focuses on the Polar Regions, and recent projects have engaged visitors, communities, operators and government agencies to examine their interactions with changing environments and changing management regimes. His recent research has appeared in a number of academic arenas such as books, journals and conference publications, as well as technical and community publications. Pat also has a strong interest and expertise in outdoor and experiential education, which shape his understanding of tourism and recreation management.

Contact Details

Pat Maher
ORTM Program, University of Northern BC
Prince George, BC, Canada

Research Interests Related to CRR

• Adventure/Ecotourism
• Tourism and Environmental Change
• The experiences of visitors (tourists and/or recreationists) to remote, backcountry and wilderness areas
• Management and planning of tourism/recreation in remote, backcountry and wilderness areas
• Tourism and/or recreation in relation to indigenous peoples and their cultural landscapes

Selected Recent Publications

Books and Book Chapters

• Maher, P.T. (2007). Wildlife and tourism in Antarctica: A unique resource and regime for management. In J. Higham, & M. Lück (Eds.), Marine wildlife and tourism management: Insights from the natural and social sciences (pp. 294-318). Oxford: CABI.
• Dawson, J., Stewart, E.J., Maher, P.T., & Slocombe, D.S. (in press). Climate change, complexity and cruising in Canada's Arctic: A Nunavut case study. In R. Anderson, & R.M. Bone (Eds.), Natural Resources and Aboriginal People in Canada (2nd Edition). Concord, ON: Captus Press.
• Maher, P.T., Stewart, E.J., & Lück, M. (Eds.). (in press). Polar Tourism: Human, Environmental and Governance Dimensions. Elmsford, NY: Cognizant Communications Corp.
• Lück, M., Maher, P.T., & Stewart, E.J. (Eds.). (in press). Cruise Tourism in the Polar Regions: Promoting Environmental and Social Sustainability. London: Earthscan.
• Maher, P.T. (in press). “Awesome size…magnitude of the place…the incredible beauty…”: Visitors’ onsite experiences in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. In C.M. Hall & J. Saarinen (Eds.), Tourism and Change in the Polar Regions: Climate, Environments and Experiences. Oxford: Routledge.
• Maher, P.T. (in press). Cruise tourist experiences and management implications for Auyuittuq, Sirmilik and Quttinirpaaq National Parks, Nunavut, Canada. In C.M. Hall & J. Saarinen (Eds.), Tourism and Change in the Polar Regions: Climate, Environments and Experiences. Oxford: Routledge.

Journal Articles and Refereed Conference Proceedings

• Dawson, J., Maher, P.T., & Slocombe, D.S. (2007). Climate Change, Marine Tourism and Sustainability in the Canadian Arctic: Contributions from Systems and Complexity Approaches. Tourism in Marine Environments, 4(2-3), 69-83.
• Maher, P.T., & Stewart, E.J. (2007). Polar tourism: Research directions for current realities and future possibilities. Tourism in Marine Environments, 4(2-3), 65-68.
• Maher, P.T. (2007). Arctic tourism: A complex system of visitors, communities, and environments. Polar Geography, 30(1-2), 1-5.
• Maher, P.T. (2007). Advocating for Antarctic Wilderness: Short-term visits and human values. In A. Watson, J. Sproull, & L. Dean (Comps.). Science and Stewardship to Protect and Sustain Wilderness Values: Eighth World Wilderness Congress symposium; September 30-October 6 2005, Anchorage, AK. Proceedings RMRS-P-49 (pp. 170-177). Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
• Mullins, P., & Maher, P. (2007). Paddling the Big Sky: Reflections on Place-based Education and Experience. In A. Watson, J. Sproull, & L. Dean (Comps.). Science and Stewardship to Protect and Sustain Wilderness Values: Eighth World Wilderness Congress symposium; September 30-October 6 2005, Anchorage, AK. Proceedings RMRS-P-49 pp. 402-410). Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
• Maher, P.T. (2008). Polar tourism: An overview of the ‘state of research’ during the International Polar Year. In M. Breiling (Ed.). The Vienna Symposium on Polar Tourism; October 22-25 2008, Vienna, Austria. Proceedings (pp. 18-21). Vienna, Austria: Vienna University of Technology - Technology, Tourism and Landscape Centre.
• Lemelin, R. H. & Maher, P. (2009). Nanuk of the Torngats: Human-Polar Bear Interactions in Torngat Mountains National Park, Labrador, Canada. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 14(2), 152-155.