Professor Martinette Kruger’s work helps South Africa to better understand tourism – a multimillion industry that creates thousands of jobs and contributes massively to economic growth.
Kruger is a full professor in Tourism Management at Tourism Research in Economics, Environs, and Society at the University of the North West.
Kruger’s research focus is strongly rooted in market segmentation and has a strong focus on festivals and related events. Part of her work entails helping the industry how events can be used to facilitate tourism in a developing and multicultural country.
She has conducted long-term research projects with various major and small-scale festivals and events to find solutions to industry-related challenges
Kruger obtained an NRF Y1-rating in 2013, and to date, has published over 100 articles, of which more than 60% are published in international peer-reviewed journals.
Kruger is a winner. Based on her research outputs, she was awarded the University of the North-West’s prestigious “Research in Excellence” award within the junior researcher category for four consecutive years (2012-2015). Kruger has also represented NWU at 67 national and international conferences.
Kruger serves on the scientific committee of the International Student Conference in Tourism Research, as subject editor of the event management section, and as an associate editor for the Journal of Convention and Event Tourism. She is also a sought-after reviewer for various national and international accredited journals. Internationally, she has participated in Green Bubbles (2015-2018), a European Union Funded Project. Ongoing international projects include collaboration with Thompson Rivers University in Canada. Kruger also has a passion for the development of junior researchers.
She started co-supervising postgraduate students in 2010 and became the main supervisor in 2012. To date, 18 honours, 13 masters and 10 doctoral students have completed their studies under her diligent guidance. Thirty articles have been co-authored and published with these students.
