Ken Robinson CBE FTS awarded honorary degree

Ken Robinson CBE FTS, Government Tourism Advisor, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Business from Solent University today in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the tourism industry.

Based near Southampton, Ken contacted the University last year, offering to help tourism students. He now comes in to discuss contemporary issues in tourism, inviting questions ahead of each visit and then responding and discussing them with the students.

Addressing the graduates at the awards ceremony after thanking the University for his honorary degree, Ken said: “If you get half as much excitement, challenge, pleasure, temporary disappointment, then enormous feeling of accomplishment through being able to change things that are within your power through your specialism, you will have wonderful careers.”

As an independent adviser on tourism, he is one of the country’s most significant contributors to tourism policy and practice over many years.  He has advised government departments, industry organisations and private sector tourism and leisure companies and has undertaken numerous studies in the public and private sectors.

In addition to his extensive business experience, Ken is the author of many strategic planning documents and articles on contemporary issues and tourism futures.

Ken is a Board Member of the Tourism Society, the UK’s professional institute of Tourism of which he was a founder member and past chair, and is chair of its Think Tank.  He is a Board member, and past chair of the industry-wide Tourism Alliance.  Ken is also Chair of Tourism South East.  Internationally he has advised the UN’s International Trade Centre, developing a tourism strategy template for nations and regions.  He is a member of the World Travel Market Advisory Council, as well as a Board member and Trustee of several other tourism bodies.

Ken was appointed a CBE for his services to tourism in 1997.