Fang Meng, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Research Associate of the SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development
School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management

Education
Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2006
M.S., Beijing International Studies University, 2001
B.S., Beijing International Studies University, 1996

Research Interests
Destination marketing and management
Tourism economic development
Tourist behavior/experience
International tourism

Awards and Honors

Best Paper Award, the 2007 International CHRIE Conference, Dallas, Texas, 2007

Biography

Dr. Fang Meng is an Assistant Professor in the School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management, and a Research Associate in the SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Meng’s research mainly focuses on tourism destination marketing and management, tourism economic development, tourist behavior/experience, and international tourism. Dr. Meng has strong background on both quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis. Her research has been published in the top-tier tourism journals such as the Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, and Tourism Analysis. She currently serves on the editorial board of Journal of Vacation Marketing, as well as more than 10 other academic journals as an ad hoc reviewer. Dr. Meng’s research work was recognized by the academic community and received the 2007 International Council of Hospitality, Restaurant, and Institutional Education Best Paper Award.

Dr. Meng earned her Ph.D. degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Virginia Tech University. She held a previous academic position at Ohio University and has completed a number of research projects through external and internal funding. Her research work extended on both regional- and international-level, including an economic impact study of leisure tourism at Southeast Ohio, Ohio tourism partnership for economic development, and social-economic impact of Beijing Olympic Games on the local community. Her most recent research project focuses on the tourism growth opportunities to the Pee Dee region in South Carolina. 

Before coming to the United States, Dr. Meng worked as a faculty member at the Beijing International Studies University, and had various consulting and managerial/training experience in the hospitality and tourism industry in China.

Selected Publications:
Bliss, B., Li, X., Meng, F., & Harrill, R. (2011, in press). Applying causal mapping to tourist research: an example of American college students’ experiences in China study abroad programs. Tourism Analysis.

Li, X., Meng, F., Uysal, M., & Mihalik, B. (2011, accepted). Understanding the Chinese long-haul outbound travel market: an overlapped segmentation approach. Journal of Business Research.

Meng, F., Li, X., & Uysal, M (2010). An examination of tourism development and regional quality of life: the case of China. Journal of China Tourism Research, 6(2), 164-182.

Meng, F. (2010). Individualism/collectivism and group travel behavior: a cross-cultural perspective. International Journal of Culture, Tourism & Hospitality Research, 4(4), 340-351.

Perdue, R., Meng, F., & Courtney, J. (2009). Publishing in the Journal of Travel Research: an assessment of manuscript acceptance and rejection. Journal of Travel Research, 47(3), 267-274.

Meng, F. & Uysal, M. (2008). Effects of gender differences on perceptions of destination attributes, motivations, and travel values: an examination of a nature-based resort destination. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 16(4), 445-466.

Li, X., Meng, F., & Uysal, M. (2008). Spatial pattern of tourist flows among the Asia-Pacific countries: an examination over a decade. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 13(3), 229-243.

Meng, F., Tepanon, Y., & Uysal, M. (2008). Destination attributes importance, performance, and motivation in measuring visitor satisfaction for a nature-based resort. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 14(1), 41-56.

Perdue, R., & Meng, F. (2006). Understanding choice and rejection in destination consideration sets. Tourism Analysis, 11(6), 337-348.

McGehee, N. G., Meng, F., & Tepanon, Y. (2006). Understanding legislators and their perceptions of the tourism industry: the case of North Carolina, USA, 1990 and 2003. Tourism Management, 27(4), 684-694.

McGehee, N. G., & Meng, F. (2006). The politics of perception: legislative images of the tourism industry in Virginia and North Carolina. Journal of Travel Research, 44(4), 368-378.

McCleary, K. W., Weaver, P. A., & Meng, F. (2005). Dance as a tourism activity: demographics, demand characteristics, motivation, and segmentation. Tourism Analysis, 10(3), 277-290.