Hailing from Kerala, South India, Aiwa completed her Bachelor’s degree in Travel and Tourism from Pazhassiraja College, Calicut University, Kerala in 2014. Following graduation, she moved to Malaysia to pursue her MSc. in Tourism by research from Taylor’s University (2014-2017) , and continued there until the completion of her Doctoral studies in 2021. During her period at Taylor’s, she engaged with various teaching, research, as well as departmental activities under the Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management.  Thereafter, she worked as an Invited Faculty and Visiting Resource Person at State and Central Universities in India.

Since her Master’s, she established her expertise in qualitative research and elevated her interpretive skills. Aiwa’s research interests include exploring niche areas in tourism, tourists’ behaviour, perceptions, and preferences. Besides that, she is an independent researcher, speaker, and thinker who works towards inculcating ethical thoughts and qualitative behaviour in daily life.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS  

• Doctor of Philosophy (2017 – 2021)
  Taylor’s University, Malaysia
  Thesis: Women bikers in India: An ethnography on  contemporary motorcycle subculture and motorcycle tourism
• Master of Science (MSc.) Tourism (2014 -2017)
  Taylor’s University, Malaysia
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Travel and Tourism Management (2011-2014)
  Calicut University, India

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS   

• British University Vietnam (BUV)
  Lecturer (2024 – Current)

• Central University of Andhra Pradesh (CUAP) (India)
  Invited Faculty (2021, 2023)
  Voc Tourism and Travel Management
• Mahatma Gandhi University (India)
  Visiting Resource person (2021 – 2022)
  School of Tourism Studies, MGU
• Taylor’s University (Malaysia)
  Tutor (2014 – 2019)
  Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management

RESEARCH AREAS / FIELDS  

• Qualitative Research Methodology
• Ethnography, and Sub-cultural Studies
• Niche Tourism

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS  

• Romy, A. & Dewan, M. (2020)
  The Bikerni: An ethnographic study on women motorcyclists in modern India. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. Doi: 10.1080/14766825.2020.1849242
• Thomas, T. K., Mura, P., & Romy, A. (2018)
  Tourism and the ‘dry law’ in Kerala – exploring the nexus between tourism and alcohol. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. doi:10.1080/14766825.2018.1471085

RESEARCH & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS / EXHIBITIONS  

•  Romy, A. (2022).
  Disruptive methods in Qualitative Research – (Workshop)
  2022 3rd Asian Tourism Research Conference
  Christ University, Bangalore, India
•  Romy, A. (2021)
  Thought of  Young Minds – (Keynote Address)
  2021 2nd Asian Tourism Research Conference
  Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines (Online)
• Romy, A. (2022)
  Due to desire or trend? Exploring the socio–psychological motivations behind the choice of stay-cations during the pandemic – (Paper presentation)
  2022 National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM)
  Hyderabad, India (Online)
• Romy, A.  (2019)
  Women Bikers in India: An Account of Current Scenario 
  2019 Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress (ITHC)
  Vythiri Village Resort, Wayanad, India
• Romy, A.  (2015)
  Fear of Outbound Tourists in the Event of Tragedies: A Review
  2015 9th Graduate Research Colloquium
  Taylor’s University, Malaysia

RESEARCH PROJECTS  

• Country-level Case Researcher, India (2022-2023)
  Documenting linkages between farmers and the tourism and hospitality industry in Asia and the Pacific ($4000)  Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) (Mahatma Gandhi University, India)
• Team Member (2015-2016)
  Tourism Industry Sector Study, Mega Science Framework Study
  Commissioned by the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia (Taylor’s University, Malaysia)
• Administrative Assistant (2014-2015)
  Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme, funded by the European Union (ESRT-EU) (Taylor’s University, Malaysia)

AWARDS & HONOURS  

• Honoured as Distinguished Alumni (2020)
  De Paul English Medium Higher Secondary School, Angamaly, India
• Taylor’s Vice-Chancellor Award (2017)
  Taylor’s University, Malaysia
• Best Paper Award (2015)
  Graduate Research Colloquium, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
• Tutorship Scholarship (2014)
  Taylor’s University, Malaysia
• Central Sector Scholarship (2012)
  Central Government of India