Melville Saayman

Biography

Melville Saayman is currently working as Director (Tourism Management and Economics) in North-West University, South Africa.

Research Interest

Prof Melville Saayman is currently director of the research focus area TREES (Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society) formerly known as the Institute for Tourism and Leisure Studies, at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) in South Africa.  TREES is the leading Tourism research entity in Africa.  He served on several boards as a director, including the South African Tourism Board (SATOUR), North-West Parks and Tourism Board, Institute of Environment and Recreation Management, National Zoological Council, South African National Recreation Council (SANREC), North-West Recreation Council (PROREC-NW) and North West Development Corporation.  At an international level, he is a member of the executive committee of the Association of International Experts in Tourism (AIEST) and also serves on the World Tourism Organisation’s panel of experts.  He became the first South African to be nominated as resource editor of the leading tourism journal, Annals of Tourism Research.  He also serves on various other editorial boards and has published in most of the major national and international tourism journals.  Currently he is active in the field of tourism and leisure economics and development.  He became the first National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher in tourism in South Africa.