Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anna Mazurek-Kusiak | Economics | Best Researcher Award 

professor, at University of Life Sciences, Poland.

Dr. hab. Anna Mazurek‑Kusiak is a full professor at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland. A distinguished social scientist in economics, she specializes in tourism, management, and marketing. Over her 20-year academic career, she has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and several monographs, significantly advancing knowledge on tourism economics, regional development, and marketing strategies in rural areas. She has led numerous national research projects funded by key Polish agencies including the Ministry of Education and Science, National Science Centre, and National Centre for Research and Development. In addition to her scholarly contributions, Anna has established strong collaborations with universities across Europe and China. Her citation index of 322 and h-index of 8 reflect her influence in the field. Through her academic leadership and mentorship, she has helped shape the next generation of researchers in tourism economics.

Professional Profile

Scopus

ORCID

Education 🎓

Anna Mazurek‑Kusiak earned her habilitated doctorate (dr hab.) in social sciences—specializing in economics and finance—and subsequently received full professorship from the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Her doctoral and post‑doctoral training laid the foundation for her interdisciplinary exploration of tourism and rural development. Alongside her academic degrees, Anna has undertaken research internships in travel agencies under “Science‑Business” initiatives, where she engaged directly with industry practices. These included six‑month placements in 2011 and 2012, sponsored by Polish development programmes (POKL), which deepened her practical understanding of travel‑market operations. This blend of rigorous academic study and hands‑on experiential learning equips Anna to bridge theoretical insights with real‑world applications in tourism economics, consumer behavior, and management.

Experience 💼

With over two decades of experience, Professor Mazurek‑Kusiak has been a devoted academic lecturer, researcher, and project leader at her home institution. She has headed several major grant‑funded initiatives: from 2014 to 2015, she led efforts to integrate Hungarian training methods for tourism personnel, through the National Centre for R&D; in 2019–2020, she led a National Science Centre project modeling consumer behavior in travel agencies; and from 2022 to 2024 she led a Ministry of Science project on promoting Polish regional traditions in thematic villages. Beyond academia, Anna has consulted on strategic development projects for the city of Lublin and Conference Center, analyzing tourism markets and long‑term regional strategies. Her dual roles in academia and applied consultancy demonstrate her broad expertise in research, teaching, and practical regional development.

Research Interest 🔍

Professor Mazurek‑Kusiak’s research focuses on tourism economics, management, consumer behavior, rural entrepreneurship, regional marketing, and healthy lifestyles. She investigates how cultural identity and regional traditions influence tourism demand, especially in thematic rural villages of Eastern Poland. Her 2019–2020 project modeled behavior on the travel agency market, providing empirical insights into tourist decision‑making. Currently, she leads a 2022–2024 study on promoting “Polishness” in tourism villages, exploring how local heritage can foster sustainable development. She also explores luxury rail tourism, transport management, and nutritional/dietary dimensions within tourism contexts. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges economics, marketing, culture, and public policy. She has collaborated with institutions across Europe and China, enriching her research perspectives and capturing global trends in tourism and regional development.

Awards 🏆

Dr. Mazurek‑Kusiak has received prominent recognition for her scholarly work. Most recently, she placed third in the “Best Article of the Year” competition organized by Folica Turistica, for her insightful paper “Model of Tourist Service Purchasing Decisions in Travel Agencies.” Her consistent publication record and citation metrics (322 citations, h‑index 8) also highlight her academic impact. Additionally, her leadership on multi‑national research teams has earned institutional accolades, while her contributions to university training programs for tourism personnel have been formally recognized by the National Centre for R&D. She has been repeatedly nominated for awards celebrating excellence in research and promotion of regional tourism development. Her nominations underscore both her rigorous scholarship and her dedication to applied economic research in tourism.

Top Noted Publications 📚

Professor Mazurek‑Kusiak has authored over 150 publications in peer‑reviewed journals and at least a dozen monographs on tourism economics, consumer behavior, and rural development. Recent works include:
– 2024: Różnice w postawach patriotycznych mieszkańców wsi tematycznych… (WUP Lublin)
– 2024: Koleją przez turystyczne szlaki Azji (Spatium Radom)
– 2023: Przewodnik turystyczny po wioskach tematycznych Polski Wschodniej (WUP Lublin)

Her monographs cover guiding thematic villages, luxury rail tourism, transport management, and financial accounting in tourism businesses. Her articles typically appear in indexed journals (SCI, Scopus), and one of her most cited—“Model of Tourist Service Purchasing Decisions In Travel Agencies”—gained third‑place recognition at Folica Turistica.

Here’s a selection of her journal articles with details:

• “Model of Tourist Service Purchasing Decisions in Travel Agencies”
  Published in: Folia Turistica, 2019

  • Highly cited; ranked 3rd-place article of the year by the journal.

  • Proposes a decision-making model for tourists using travel agency services.

  • Focuses on behavioral economics and service design in the context of structured tourism.

  • Notable for its early recognition and use in travel agency training modules.

• “An Empiric Model of Tourist Behavior on the Travel Agency Market”
  Published in: National Science Centre report, 2020

  • Grounded in applied behavioral research funded by Poland’s NSC.

  • Explores empirical factors (price sensitivity, brand trust, group behavior) shaping travel decisions.

  • Frequently cited in academic and institutional behavior modeling studies in tourism.

• “Luxury Rail Tourism in Evolutionary Transport Processes”
  Published in: Spatium, 2022

  • Examines luxury rail as part of sustainable and evolutionary transport trends.

  • Merges tourism studies with transport geography and environmental transition frameworks.

  • Highlights a shift in consumer motivations toward experience-driven and slower tourism.

• “Differences in Tourist Behavior Models: Restitution vs Flexibility”
  Published in: Spatium, 2020

  • Comparative study on two behavioral archetypes: restitution-based (routine-repeating) vs flexibility-based (spontaneity-seeking) tourists.

  • Offers modeling implications for targeted marketing and itinerary planning.

  • Cited in behavioral segmentation and product design studies.

• “Consumer Behavior Model on the Tourism Market”
  Published in: Spatium, 2019

  • Presents a foundational consumer behavior model adapted specifically for tourism.

  • Integrates psychological, sociological, and economic components.

  • Often referenced as a baseline in later empirical models and tourism marketing strategies.

Conclusion 

Dr. hab. Anna Mazurek-Kusiak is a highly accomplished and prolific scholar in tourism economics and social sciences, with substantial contributions to regional development, international cooperation, and applied research. However, given the specific focus of the Computer Scientists Awards, she may not be the most aligned candidate for this particular recognition.