Key details
Dr Wenjie Cai
Associate Head of the School of Management & Marketing - Research & Knowledge Exchange, Associate Professor in Tourism
Dr Wenjie Cai is an Associate Professor in Tourism. Wenjie joined the Çï¿ûÊÓƵ in September 2017 after completing his PhD in Tourism from the University of Surrey. Wenjie is an experienced qualitative researcher, his area of expertise and research interests include digital wellbeing, social inclusion, knowledge creation, technology use, and consumer behaviour. Wenjie aims to advocate digital well-being and support marginalised and disadvantaged groups through his research. He has more than 30 research outputs, including publications in world-leading journals in the field. Before joining Greenwich, Wenjie had various working experiences in industry and academia. He worked for the University of Surrey, the University of East London and the world-leading tour operator TUI.
Wenjie collaborates with international colleagues in various interdisciplinary projects. He has been advocating knowledge transfer and public engagements. His research on digital-free tourism has been reported globally by more than 300 media including BBC, CNN, the World Economic Forum, Forbes, CCTV, Yahoo, and La Vanguardia. He led the Research Innovation Collaboration (KEEP+) funded by the European Regional Development Fund to investigate the long-term impact of digital detox holidays on wellbeing.
Wenjie’s recent projects include book editor of the ‘Routledge Handbook of Gender in Tourism’, and special issue editor of the ‘Transforming to a sustainable visitor economy with information systems’ at the Information Systems Journal. Wenjie also initiates conversations and discussions on a kinder, more supportive academia.
Responsibilities within the university
- Teaching tourism and hospitality modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
- Dissertation supervisors and personal tutor.
- PhD supervision
- Backpacker tourism
- Tourist Behaviour
- Chinese independent travellers
- Digital wellbeing / digital-free tourism
- Social inclusion and tourism
- Mobilities
Responsibilities within the university:
Wenjie is currently available for PhD supervision in the following areas:
Awards
- 2023 Best Paper Award: Surrey 2023 Conference 'Bringing Hospitality, Tourism, Transport and Events Back for Good'.
- 2021 John Campbell Research Impact – Highly Commended Paper: An affordance perspective of team collaboration and enforced working from home during COVID-19. European Journal of Information Systems, 29(4), 429-442.
- 2019 Early Career Researcher Communication and Engagement Award – Çï¿ûÊÓƵ
- 2016 Outstanding PhD Thesis Award – 8th World Conference for Graduate Research in Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure
- 2013 PhD Participant Award - Celebrating and Enhancing the Tourism Knowledge-based Platform: A Tribute to Jafar Jafari
Recognition
PhD External Examiner:
2019: University of Tasmania, Australia
2018: University of Otago, New Zealand
Special Issue Editor:
Transforming to a sustainable visitor economy with information systems – Information Systems Journal
Gender and Sexuality in Tourism and Hospitality – Tourism and Hospitality Research journal
Book Editor:
Routledge Handbook on Gender in Tourism
Associate Editor:
European Journal of Tourism Research
Editorial Board:
Journal of Travel Research
Tourism Management Perspectives
Reviewers for:
Annals of Tourism Research
Tourism Management
Journal of Sustainable Tourism
International Journal of Tourism Research
Tourism Geographies
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
Tourism Management Perspectives
Tourism and Hospitality Research
European Journal of Information Systems
Information Systems Journal
Journal of Business Research
Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Journal of Cleaner Production
IFIP World Computer Congress
Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Research / Scholarly interests
Dr Wenjie Cai's current research focus on digital wellbeing, diversity, equality and social inclusion in the context of tourism and hospitality. Projects include studies investigating the benefits of digital detox holidays, action plans to transform gender relations in tourism and hospitality, and inclusive LGBT holiday spaces.
Dr Wenjie Cai also conducts projects in relation to his PhD research. He is currently leading multiple projects in intercultural communications, such as investigating backpackers' authentic seeking through food consumption, and hybrid identity negotiations and transformations through the backpacker journey.
Wenjie is interested in qualitative methods and epistemology in tourism. He is currently working on projects to further explore (auto)ethnography, mobile methods, and critically investigate the knowledge creations in Information Technology and Tourism.
Key funded projects
2022 Impact Development Fund: Prototyping the digital-free experiences (Co-Investigator)
2020-2021 KEEP+ Research Innovation Collaboration Grant (Principal Investigator): design a customised and unique digital-free travel experience, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
2020 Small Research Grant: Exploring the trends of knowledge creation in information technology and tourism research (Principal Investigator), Faculty of Business, Çï¿ûÊÓƵ
2018-2019 ROOTS - Recognising Cultural Heritage Opportunities for Tourism SMEs (Researcher), co-funded by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union.
Media activity
The Conversation:
How to enjoy a digital detox over Christmas:
Zoom meetings help marginalised staff feel included – we should keep having them even after offices reopen:
Leave your phone at home this holiday and you'll feel better (after you feel worse):
Forbes:
The Unbearable Lightness Of Traveling Unplugged
The Independent:
Want a digital detox this Christmas? Here’s how:
Reuters:
Digital detox: Can taking a break from tech improve your well-being? https://www.reuters.com/article/tech-internet-detox-idUKL8N2PR28A
Evening Express:
Digital-detox holidaymakers reconnect with real world, study suggests:
Medical Xpress:
Study reveals the emotional journey of a digital detox while travelling: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-08-reveals-emotional-journey-digital-detox.html
Stylist:
Holiday digital detox: This is the emotional journey you'll go through:
Yahoo:
Digital-detox holidaymakers reconnect with real world, study suggests
MSN:
Travellers 'engaged more with locals and each other' during holiday tech detox
Daily Mail:
'Digital detox' holidays where you ditch your phone let you enjoy your trip MORE 'because you won't be bombarded by notifications'
Could 'digital detox' cabins be the solution to city burnout?
US News:
Unplugging From Social Media on Vacation? It's Tough at First
QZ:
The terrifying, liberating experience of traveling without your smartphone
Psychology Today:
The Emotional Roller-Coaster of a Digital Detox Vacation
Channel News Asia:
The worry, anxiety and emotional challenges of disconnecting while on holiday
Thrive Global:
You Have to Disconnect to Reconnect
Irish Times:
Nomophobia prevents millennials from switching off
Recent publications
Article
Farkic, Jelena , Cai, Wenjie, Isailovic, Gorana (2024), . Taylor & Francis - Routledge. In: , , , . Taylor & Francis - Routledge, Journal of Sustainable Tourism ISSN: 0966-9582 (Print), 1747-7646 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2024.2350651) NB Item availability restricted.
McKenna, Brad , Cai, Wenjie, Yoon, Hyunsun (2023), . Emerald. In: , , , . Emerald, Information Technology and People ISSN: 0959-3845 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-10-2022-0787).
Trang, Nguyen M , McKenna, Brad, Cai, Wenjie, Morrison, Alastair (2023), . Emerald. In: , , , . Emerald, Information Technology and People ISSN: 0959-3845 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-08-2022-0602).
Ma, Yue and , Cai, Wenjie (2023), . Taylor and Francis Group - Routledge. In: , , , . Taylor and Francis Group - Routledge, Current Issues in Tourism ISSN: 1368-3500 (Print), 1747-7603 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2175203).
Aksenova, Diana , Cai, Wenjie, Gebbels, Maria (2022), . Emerald. In: , , , . Emerald, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 34 (9) . pp. 3417-3439 ISSN: 0959-6119 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-09-2021-1117).
Lai, Yi-Ling and , Cai, Wenjie (2022), . SAGE Publications. In: , , , . SAGE Publications, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 23 (1) . pp. 88-100 ISSN: 1467-3584 (Print), 1742-9692 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/14673584221075182).
Hradecky, David , Kennell, James, Cai, Wenjie, Davidson, Rob (2022), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, International Journal of Information Management, 65: 102497 ISSN: 0268-4012 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102497).
Jin, Haipeng and , Cai, Wenjie (2021), . Taylor & Francis. In: , , , . Taylor & Francis, Current Issues in Tourism ISSN: 1368-3500 (Print), 1747-7603 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.2014421).
Cai, Wenjie and , McKenna, Brad (2021), . SAGE - Travel and Tourism Research Association. In: , , , . SAGE - Travel and Tourism Research Association, Journal of Travel Research, 62 (2) . pp. 290-304 ISSN: 0047-2875 (Print), 1552-6763 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875211061208).
Lucena, Rodrigo , Vorobjovas-Pinta, Oscar, Cai, Wenjie (2021), . SAGE Publications. In: , , , . SAGE Publications, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 21 (4) . pp. 426-432 ISSN: 1467-3584 (Print), 1742-9692 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/14673584211052100).
Cai, Wenjie , Gebbels, Maria, Hafiz Zainal-Shukri, Wan (2021), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Tourism Management, 86: 104339 ISSN: 0261-5177 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104339).
Usai, Roberto , Cai, Wenjie, Wassler, Philipp (2020), . SAGE. In: , , , . SAGE, Journal of Travel Research, 61 (1) . pp. 3-15 ISSN: 0047-2875 (Print), 1552-6763 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520967763).
Gebbels, Maria , Gao, Xiongbin, Cai, Wenjie (2020), . Emerald. In: , , , . Emerald, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 32 (11) . pp. 3623-3643 ISSN: 0959-6119 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2020-0385).
Waizenegger, Lena , McKenna, Brad, Cai, Wenjie, Bendz, Taino (2020), . Taylor and Francis. In: , , , . Taylor and Francis, European Journal of Information Systems, 29 (4) . pp. 429-442 ISSN: 0960-085X (Print), 1476-9344 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/0960085X.2020.1800417).
Cai, Wenjie , McKenna, Brad, Wassler, Philipp, Williams, Nigel (2020), . SAGE Publications. In: , , , . SAGE Publications, Journal of Travel Research, 60 (6) . pp. 1377-1384 ISSN: 0047-2875 (Print), 1552-6763 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520946100).
Lamb, Yasmin , Cai, Wenjie, McKenna, Brad (2020), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, International Journal of Information Management, 54: 102198 ISSN: 0268-4012 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102198).
Cai, Wenjie and , McKenna, Brad (2020), . Sage. In: , , , . Sage, Journal of Travel Research, 60 (4) . pp. 912-915 ISSN: 0047-2875 (Print), 1552-6763 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520903142).
Floros, Christina , Cai, Wenjie, McKenna, Brad, Ajeeb, Dimah (2019), . Taylor & Francis. In: , , , . Taylor & Francis, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29 (5) . pp. 751-766 ISSN: 0966-9582 (Print), 1747-7646 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1675676).
Cai, Wenjie , McKenna, Brad, Waizenegger, Lena (2019), . SAGE. In: , , , . SAGE, Journal of Travel Research, 59 (5) . pp. 909-927 ISSN: 0047-2875 (Print), 1552-6763 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287519868314).
Cai, Wenjie , Richter, Shahper, McKenna, Brad (2019), . Emerald Publishing Limited. In: , , , . Emerald Publishing Limited, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 10 (4) . pp. 651-672 ISSN: 1757-9880 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-07-2018-0068).
Cai, Wenjie , Cohen, Scott A., Tribe, John (2019), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Annals of Tourism Research, 75 . pp. 120-130 ISSN: 0160-7383 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.12.010).
McKenna, Brad , Cai, Wenjie, Tuunanen, Tuure (2018), . Association for Information Systems. In: , , , . Association for Information Systems, Pacific Asia Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 10 (4) . pp. 37-64 ISSN: 1943-7536 (Print), 1943-7544 (Online) (doi: https://journal.ecrc.nsysu.edu.tw/index.php/pajais/article/view/490/229).
Book section
Munar, Ana MarÃa and , Cai, Wenjie (2024), . Springer. In: , , In: Jafar Jafari, Honggen Xiao (eds.), Encyclopedia of Tourism. Springer, Cham, Switzerland (Ongoing - Living reference work entry) . pp. 1-3 . ISBN: 9783030749231; 9783030749224 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_180-2) NB Item availability restricted.
Cai, Wenjie , kimbu, Albert Nsom, Swart, Magdalena Petronella (Nellie), Yang, Elaine Chiao Ling (2024), . Routledge - Taylor and Francis Group. In: , , In: Magdalena Petronella (Nellie) Swart, Wenjie Cai, Elaine Chiao Ling Yang, Albert Nsom Kimbu (eds.), Routledge Handbook on Gender in Tourism: Views on Teaching, Research and Praxis. Routledge - Taylor and Francis Group, London and New York (1st) . pp. 3-12 . ISBN: 9781003286721; 9781032261348; 103226134X; 9781003852629; 1003852629 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003286721-2) NB Item availability restricted.
Yang, Elaine Chiao Ling , Kimbu, Albert Nsom, Cai, Wenjie, Swart, Magdalena Petronella (Nellie) (2024), . Routledge - Taylor and Francis Group. In: , , In: Magdalena Petronella (Nellie) Swart, Wenjie Cai, Elaine Chiao Ling Yang, Albert Nsom Kimbu (eds.), Routledge Handbook on Gender in Tourism: Views on Teaching, Research and Praxis. Routledge - Taylor and Francis Group, London and New York (29018) (1st) . pp. 1-12 . ISBN: 9781003286721; 9781032261348; 103226134X; 9781003852629; 1003852629 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003286721-26) NB Item availability restricted.
Cai, Wenjie and , McKenna, Brad (2024), . Routledge - Taylor & Francis. In: , , In: Alastair Morrison, Dimitrios Buhalis (eds.), Routledge Handbook of Trends and Issues in Global Tourism Supply and Demand. Routledge - Taylor & Francis, Oxon & New York (1st) . pp. 1-10 . ISBN: 9781003260790; 9781032197739; 9781032197746 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003260790).
Nandasena, Roshini , Morrison, Alastair, Cai, Wenjie, Coca-Stefaniak, J. Andres (2023), . Routledge - Taylor and Francis Group. In: , , In: Alastair Morrison, Dimitrios Buhalis (eds.), Routledge Handbook on Trends and Issues in Global Tourism. Routledge - Taylor and Francis Group, London (1st) . pp. 1-16 . ISBN: 9781032197739; 9781003260790 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003260790) NB Item availability restricted.
Cai, Wenjie and , (2023), . Channel View Publications. In: , , In: Michael O'Regan (ed.), Backpacking Culture and Mobilities: Independent and Nomadic Travel. Channel View Publications, Bristol, UK (1st) . ISBN: 9781845418069; 9781845418090; 9781845418076 (doi: https://www.channelviewpublications.com/page/detail/Backpacking-Culture-and-Mobilities/?k=9781845418069) NB Item availability restricted.
Cai, Wenjie and , Southall, Carol (2021), . Channel View Publications. In: , , In: Oskaras Vorobjovas-Pinta (ed.), Gay Tourism: New Perspectives. Channel View Publications, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit (1st) . pp. 52-66 . ISBN: 9781845418427; 9781845418434 (doi: https://doi.org/10.21832/9781845418434-007) NB Item availability restricted.
Cai, Wenjie and , (2018), . Springer. In: , , In: Catheryn Khoo-Lattimore, Elaine Chiao Ling Yang (eds.), Asian Youth Travellers. Springer, Singapore . pp. 79-95 . ISBN: 9789811085383 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-**8539-0_5) NB Item availability restricted.
Conference proceedings
Wan Hafiz, Wan Zainal Shukri , Yen, Gan Mei, Rahijan, Abdul Wahab Mohamad, Cai, Wenjie (2021), . Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). In: , , In: Fathilah Ismail, Nur Amalina Mohamad Zaki, N Alia Fahada W Ab Rahman, Aleff Omar Shah Nordin, Akmalia Mohamad Ariff, Nurul Najwa Napatah, Siti Falindah Padlee, Sofea Cheah Azlan (eds.), Proceedings of the Global Tourism Conference 2021. Tourism Innovation and Digitalisation: A New Way in Redesigning Tourism Landscape. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 7-9 Sept 2021. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Terengganu, Malaysia (23) (1st) . pp. 85-88 . ISBN: 9789672939849 (doi: https://doi.org/10.46754/gtc.2021.11.023).
McKenna, Brad , Waizenegger, Lena, Cai, Wenjie (2020), . Springer International Publishing. In: , , In: David Kreps, Taro Komukai, Gopal TV, Kaori Ishii (eds.), Human-Centric Computing in a Data-Driven Society: Proceedings of the 14th IFIP TC 9 International Conference on Human Choice and Computers, HCC14 2020, Tokyo, Japan. Springer International Publishing, , 590 (1st) . pp. 305-314 . ISBN: 9783030628024ISSN: 1868-4238 (Print), 1868-422X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62803-1_24).
Cai, Wenjie and , Southall, Carol (2019), . Digital Commons @ TRU Library. In: , , , Critical Tourism Studies Proceedings. Digital Commons @ TRU Library, , 2019 (1) . ISBN: 9780991687121 (doi: https://digitalcommons.library.tru.ca/cts-proceedings/vol2019/iss1/77).
Gebbels, Maria , Cai, Wenjie, Gao, Xiongbin (2019), . Digital Commons @ TRU Library. In: , , , Critical Tourism Studies Proceedings. Digital Commons @ TRU Library, , 2019 (1) . pp. 62 . ISBN: 9780991687121 (doi: https://digitalcommons.library.tru.ca/cts-proceedings/vol2019/iss1/62/).
McKenna, Brad and , Cai, Wenjie (2019), . Digital Commons @ TRU Library. In: , , , Critical Tourism Studies Proceedings. Digital Commons @ TRU Library, , 2019 (1) . pp. 31 . ISBN: 9780991687121 (doi: https://digitalcommons.library.tru.ca/cts-proceedings/vol2019/iss1/31/).
Zeng, Xiaoxiao , McKenna, Brad, Richter, Shahper, Cai, Wenjie (2019), . Springer Nature Switzerland. In: , , In: Marinos Themistocleous, Paulo Rupino da Cunha (eds.), Information Systems: 15th European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern Conference, EMCIS 2018, Limassol, Cyprus, October 4-5, 2018, Proceedings. Springer Nature Switzerland, , 341 (1st) . pp. 272-279 . ISBN: 9783030113940ISSN: 1865-1348 (Print), 1865-1356 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11395-7_23).
Vodanovich, Shahper , McKenna, Brad, Cai, Wenjie (2017), . University of Maribor Press. In: , , , 30th Bled eConference Digital Transformation – From Connecting Things to Transforming Our Lives (Conference Proceedings). University of Maribor Press, . pp. 617-628 . ISBN: 9789612860431 (doi: https://doi.org/10.18690/978-961-286-043-1).
McKenna, Brad , Cai, Wenjie, Tuunanen, Tuure (2017), . Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS). In: , , , Proceedings of the 50th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), . pp. 1237-1246 . ISBN: 9780998133102 (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2017.148).
Cai, Wenjie and , (2016), . Anatolia: An International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research. In: , , , 8th World Conference for Graduate Research in Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure. Anatolia: An International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research, Turkey . pp. 207-211 . ISBN: 9786056576232 (doi: ).
Cai, Wenjie and , McKenna, Brad (2016), . Anatolia: An International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research. In: , , , 4th Interdisciplinary Tourism Research Conference. Anatolia: An International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research, . pp. 508-514 . ISBN: 9786056576232ISSN: 1303-2917 (Print), 2156-6909 (Online) (doi: ).
Edited book
Swart, Magdalena Petronella (Nellie) , Cai, Wenjie, Yang, Elaine Chiao Ling, Kimbu, Albert (2024), . Routledge - Taylor and Francis Group. In: , , , . Routledge - Taylor and Francis Group, London and New York (1st) . ISBN: 9781003286721; 9781032261348; 103226134X; 9781003852629; 1003852629 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003286721) NB Item availability restricted.