Dr. Steven Martin

Education & Publication Profile

Steven Andrew Martin completed his Master of Arts in Taiwan Studies from National Chengchi University while studying Chinese and exploring surf sites on the east coast of Taiwan. Combining his passion for learning and surfing, he completed a MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management through a nation-wide research on surf tourism at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand. He earned his PhD in Environmental Management based on the Surf Resource Sustainability Index (SRSI), a methodology and global model for surf site conservation which combines theoretical and applied research models in sustainability from touristic and environmental perspectives. He looks at the criteria and implications of social, economic, environmental and institutional indicators foundational to surf resource sustainability, particularly in the contexts of policy and management. The SRSI concept was awarded 2012 best paper by the Asia-Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) and was published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. Steven is currently a tenured lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies at Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.

Aquatic Background

Steven hails from the Great Lakes state of Ohio and moved to the Big Island of Hawaii at 15-years-old in 1978. He unexpectedly took up bodysurfing at the will of the pounding Hawaiian shorebreak and began surfing and working as a beach boy soon after, a job and lifestyle which led to an early career as a Hawaii County Water Safety Officer. Relevant aquatics experience include a summer of exchange service as a California State Park Lifeguard at San Clemente, ten years service for the American Red Cross, five years as the owner and operator of an international surfing school, and a surfing contest competitor and official in Hawaii, North America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Degrees & Certificates

PhD in Environmental Management
Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
2011–2013

MBA in Hospitality and Tourism
Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand
2007-2010

MA in Taiwan Studies
National Chengchi University, Taipei, ROC
2004-2006

BA in Chinese Culture & Philosophy
University of Hawaii, Hilo, USA
1999-2001

AA in General Education
Hawaii Community College, Kailua-Kona, USA
1995-2000

5 Certificates in Chinese Philosophy
Peking University, Beijing, PRC
1995-2002

SURF RESEARCH

Journal Papers

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2011). Beach and coastal survey of Thailand: What future for surf tourism. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality & Culinary Arts, 3(1), 77–87.
http://www.jthca.org/Download/pdf/V3%20IS1/chap%205.pdf

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2012). The genesis of a new body of sport tourism literature: A systematic review of surf tourism research (1997-2011). Journal of Sport and Tourism, 17(4), 257–287. doi:10.1080/14775085.2013.766528
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14775085.2013.766528

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2013). Developing a surf resource sustainability index as a global model for surf beach conservation and tourism research. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research.
doi: 10.1080/10941665.2013.806942
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10941665.2013.806942#preview

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2013). Measuring the conservation aptitude of surf beaches in Phuket, Thailand: An application of the surf resource sustainability index. International Journal of Tourism Research.
doi: 10.1002/jtr.1961
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jtr.1961/abstract

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2013). Investigating the importance of surf resource sustainability indicators: Stakeholder perspectives for surf tourism planning and development. Tourism Planning and Development. doi: 10.1080/21568316.2013.864990
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rthp21/current

THESES

Martin, S. A. (2013). A surf resource sustainability index for surf site conservation and tourism management. Ph.D. dissertation. Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.

Martin, S. A. (2010). Coastal resource assessment for surf tourism in Thailand. Master’s thesis, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Assenov, I., & Martin, S. A. (2010). Surf tourism research 1997–2009: A systematic review and interdisciplinary perspective. Proceedings of the 16th Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) Annual Conference: Competition and Collaboration between Regional Tourism Destinations (pp. 1017–1028). Macau S.A.R, China, July 13–16.

Martin, S. A. (2009). Rethinking the monsoon: Sustainable surf tourism in Thailand. Paper presented at the International Tourism Conference on Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism Management: Beyond the Global Recession. Silpakon University, Bangkok, Thailand, May 14–15.

Martin, S. A. (2010). The conservation of coastal surfing resources in Thailand: The Andaman Sea. Proceedings of the International Conference on the Environment and Natural Resources (ICENR) 2010 – The Changing Environment: Challenges for Society (pp. 262–280), Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Bangkok, Thailand, November 10–12.

Martin, S. A. (2013). Surf tourism and resource sustainability in Phuket, Thailand. Scholarly presentation [PowerPoint]. Global Surf Cities Conference: Destination Innovation Collaboration, Kirra Hill Community and Cultural Centre, Gold Coast, QLD, February 28 – March 1. Gold Coast: Gold Coast Surf City, Inc.

Martin, S. A. (2013). The surf resource sustainability index and Thailand case trail. Scholarly presentation [PowerPoint]. Global Surf Cities Conference: Destination Innovation Collaboration, Kirra Hill Community and Cultural Centre, Gold Coast, QLD, February 28 – March 1. Gold Coast: Gold Coast Surf City, Inc.

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2008). Beach and coastal survey: What future for surf tourism. CD Proceedings of the 7th Asia Pacific Forum for Graduate Students’ Research in Tourism – Advances in Tourism Practices: Pointing the Way Forward (p.12), University Teknologi Mara, Selangor, Malaysia, June 3–5.

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2008). Interdisciplinary approaches toward sustainable surf tourism in Thailand. Paper presented at the 1st PSU Sustainability Conference. Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus, Thailand, November 19–21.

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2011). A statistical analysis of surf tourism research literature. CD Proceedings of the 4th Annual PSU Research Conference: Multidisciplinary Studies on Sustainable Development (p.57). Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand, November 16–18.