A former European surf champion has joined Falmouth University as senior lecturer for a new degree course beginning in 2014.

Sam Bleakley, who is also a published travel writer, academic and presenter from Penwith, will be course coordinator for the new degree in Cultural Tourism Management that begins in September.

With an MA in Geography from Pembroke College, University of Cambridge and ongoing PhD research at Falmouth that focuses on Haiti, surfing and new modes of travel writing, Sam’s experiences are drawn from over a decade of global travel.

During these journeys he has explored and documented the vast potential for cultural tourism in countries usually represented as politically unstable, or ecologically vulnerable, such as Mauritania, Liberia and Oman.

Despite his travels, Sam’s primary inspiration is the geography of Cornwall, and he considers the region a perfect lens through which to understand the relationship between the local and the global.

The new course includes the study of tourist activity inspired by the creative, sports and heritage sectors and joins degrees in Creative Events Management and Music, Theatre and Entertainment Management within the Cultural Management & Production programme.

On his appointment Sam said: “I am extremely proud to join the Falmouth team, and very passionate about this new degree because I really believe that our graduates will become pioneers in the locally and globally important cultural tourism sector.

“A recent report by Visit Britain estimated that the UK alone will have a tourism industry worth over £257 billion by 2025. Currently UK tourism supports 3.1 million jobs.

“Cornwall can be a celebrated model of exemplary practice in cultural tourism. We are an ambitious and brilliant university, and I think this is the perfect home for the groundbreaking new Cultural Tourism Management degree.”

Applications to the course are open through UCAS and a taster day is being held on Tuesday, March 18. Email tasterdays@falmouth.ac.uk to register interest.

Sam would also like to hear from those working within the tourism sector in Cornwall and beyond; email sam.bleakley@falmouth.ac.uk