Christelle Van Zyl
Researcher, South Africa
Dr Christelle van Zyl is a South African tourism researcher and practitioner specialising in agri-tourism development and destination marketing for rural and emerging destinations. Formerly a university lecturer in Tourism Management, she now supports research, training, and applied projects that strengthen farm-based tourism enterprises and local visitor economies.
Her PhD research investigates agri-tourism development pathways in South Africa, focusing on farm-based experiences and sustainable value creation. Following her doctorate, she continues her studies in tourism marketing. She is actively involved in community skills development and local economic development initiatives that link education, small business, and place-based tourism growth.