Stefania Ntregka
Stefania Ntregka (Ph.D.) was born is Greece and developed an early interest in tourism. She is a Lecturer in Research Methods and Guest Experience at Hotelschool The Hague. She studied Hospitality and Tourism Management at Higher Technological and Educational Institute of Larisa, Greece and continued with postgraduate studies (MSc) in Communication, Advertising and Public Relations at Ulster University in Northern Ireland. In 2017 she obtained her Ph.D. from Ulster University focusing on Community Empowerment in Tourism Planning. Stefania worked in hospitality and consultancy in Greece, the UK and Spain and started her teaching career in the UK.
"I am interested in how tourism intersects with community life — not just how it brings change, but who gets to shape that change."
Research interests
Stefania's research explores the complex relationships between tourism and the communities it affects. Her work focuses on how tourism can serve as a tool for empowerment - or, conversely, contribute to exclusion- depending on who is involved in decision-making processes.
Her recent projects include community empowerment through tourism in post-conflict areas, examining how tourism can support social recovery and local agency. She is also investigating the phenomenon of gastronomic gentrification, analysing how food-driven tourism transforms local businesses, community identity, and urban space. In addition, Stefania is involved in a project exploring community participation in tourism governance through participatory citizen platforms.
Another key strand of her work explores the limits of tourism growth, especially in destinations that are often considered models of success. She is particularly interested in the tipping points at which tourism becomes unsustainable, even for thriving local businesses.