Dr. Lynn Jonas

Dr. Lynn Jonas holds a Doctoral and a Master’s degree in Education, alongside a Master’s degree in Maritime Studies, with undergraduate qualifications in Tourism. This unique combination of qualifications underpins her deep interest in tourism education and the development of coastal and marine tourism. Her academic background equips her with a multidisciplinary perspective that bridges pedagogy, maritime knowledge, and sustainable tourism practices. She is an emerging researcher with over 15 years of experience in tourism lecturing and her scholarly focus lies in coastal and marine tourism within higher education, where she actively supervises both Master’s and Doctoral students exploring diverse issues in this dynamic field. Dr Jonas has contributed to academic literature through publications that advance understanding of blue tourism, cultural heritage tourism, and sustainable tourism. Her research and teaching are deeply informed by a commitment to sustainability and the socio-cultural dimensions of tourism in coastal regions.

Dr. Jonas plays an active role in shaping South Africa’s coastal and marine tourism landscape through her involvement in national and regional industry bodies where she collaborates with national stakeholders to shape strategic initiatives for the country’s coastal tourism development. She is a member of the Operation Phakisa Coastal and Marine Tourism Skills Expert Group, a strategic government-led initiative to unlock the economic potential of the ocean economy. In this capacity, Dr Jonas contributes her academic and practical expertise to advancing skills development and capacity building in the coastal and marine tourism sector.

In addition to her national-level engagement, Dr. Jonas serves on the Executive Committee of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA), Eastern Cape Provincial Chapter, where she supports industry collaboration, ethical standards, and sustainable tourism practices across the region. Her dual role in academia and industry positions her as a vital link between research, policy, and practice in tourism development.

Learn More:

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4714-7678
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lynn-Jonas?ev=hdr_xprf