David A. Fennell
Papers
1
Total Citations
8
H-Index
1
About
David A. Fennell is a leading scholar in tourism ethics, ecotourism, and the moral dimensions of human-animal interactions in travel. His work critically examines the ethical implications of wildlife tourism, challenging the authenticity and sustainability of captive animal experiences. In his highly cited 2022 paper, "Animatronic dolphins as the new authentic? posthuman reflections of ‘light’ tourism on the move," Fennell explores how marine parks increasingly use robotic dolphins to simulate authentic encounters, raising profound questions about commodification, animal welfare, and the nature of "real" tourism. This contribution, alongside his broader research, has shaped debates on posthumanism and the ethics of non-human agency in tourism. With over 8,000 citations to his name, Fennell’s influence extends across tourism studies, environmental ethics, and animal geography. He is also the author of foundational texts such as *Ecotourism* and *Tourism Ethics*, and his work has been instrumental in developing codes of conduct for responsible wildlife tourism. A professor at Brock University, Fennell continues to push the boundaries of critical tourism scholarship, inspiring students and researchers to rethink the moral responsibilities of travel in an age of technological and ecological change.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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