Marta Soligo

Director of Tourism Research, UNLV Office of Economic Development
Assistant Professor, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality
Expertise: Sociology of tourism and leisure, Tourism development and social justice, Sustainable travel, Health tourism, Film-induced tourism, Dark tourism and thrillertainment, Cultural tourism, Agritourism, Festival tourism, Sports tourism, Tourist attractions

Biography

Marta Soligo is a sociologist and hospitality professor who serves as the director of tourism research with UNLV's Office of Economic Development. Her work examines various facets of travel and tourism — including culture, sports, and entertainment — through a sociological, social justice, and environmental sustainability lens. 

Soligo is the academic lead for the UNLV Tourism Development, Diversification, and Resiliency Initiative — a project that aims to diversify Las Vegas’ tourism economy and its beneficiaries. In particular, the initiative centers around cultural, sports, and medical tourism in Southern Nevada, with a focus on support programs for disadvantaged businesses.

In addition to educating UNLV students as an assistant professor with the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, the Italy native teaches a University of Bergamo master’s course in Planning and Management of Tourism Systems. She has also offered "Sociology of Leisure," a UNLV course part of the UN World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) “Tourism for the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030” program.

Soligo’s interests include tourism and social justice, community development, and immigrant labor within the hospitality industry. Additionally, her sociological research has focused on a wide range of themes, such as film-induced tourism, dark tourism (travel to places historically associated with death and tragedy), and gambling studies. She has presented her works at several conferences hosted by professional associations and international institutions, such as the UNWTO and the American Sociological Association.

Education

  • Ph.D., UNLV
  • M.A., Planning and Management of Tourism Systems, Università degli Studi di BergamoUniversità degli Studi di Bergamo
  • B.A., Foreign Languages and Literatures, Università degli Studi di BergamoUniversità degli Studi di Bergamo

Related Links

Search For Other Experts On

hospitality & tourism, social issues, sustainability

Marta Soligo In The News

Las Vegas Sun
The average rate of a three-night stay in Las Vegas for the Formula One race weekend is $1,372, according to Vegas Insider, a website that provides gambling odds and trends. Last year, it was $2,314.
Neue Deister-Zeitung
More and more places around the world are struggling with overtourism and are thinking about new strategies to avoid being overrun by the masses season after season. On the one hand, tourists bring money into the region, but on the other hand, they harm the environment. Because where there are a lot of people, there is usually a lot of garbage. And it remains, even when the travelers are long gone.
Fodor's
Every year, the Fodor’s No List aims to shine a light on destinations suffering from untenable popularity. These locations are popular for good reason—they are stunning, intriguing, and culturally significant. However, some of these highly coveted tourist spots are collapsing under the burden of their own prominence.
K.N.P.R. News
The Tropicana will be no more by the time you wake up on Wednesday. The implosion of what was once called the "Tiffany of the Strip" is scheduled for 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. There will be no public viewing areas, but local TV news stations will air live coverage beginning at 1 and 2 a.m. on Oct. 9. (If you won't be awake then, check back here in the morning.)

Articles Featuring Marta Soligo

unlv pumpkins
Campus News | November 4, 2024

A monthly roundup of the top news stories at UNLV, featuring the presidential election, gaming partnerships, and much more.

woman lying on couch next to piece of luggage
People | May 13, 2024

The hospitality researcher uncovers human interaction in the context of tourist attractions.