Dr. Buning is a Senior Lecturer within the tourism discipline in the UQ Business School. His research interests reside at the intersection of physical activity, travel, and events. Within this area, his research agenda is focused on how tourists are physically active as both a driver of tourism behaviour (i.e., active lifestyle sports) and during visitation (i.e., active transport). His research works on active lifestyle sports closely mirrors his passions in active sport tourism for mountain biking, cycling, running, rock climbing, hiking, and more. His work crosses over to active transport through bikeshare, eScooters, and more generally micromobility where he is focused on tourism usage and related impacts.
The outcome of his work enables communities, events, and organizations to efficiently market to and attract visitors, encourage physical activity generally, and improve the related impact to destinations as a form of sustainable tourism. Dr. Buning has worked in the running event industry managing race logistics and continues to work with physical activity focused organizations, events, and communities as a consultant in developing data driven business strategy. He regularly publishes on the topics of sport tourism, event management, and active transport.
Journal Article: When flow meets business: A study of mountain biking
Hardy, Anne, Buning, Richard J., Boudreau, Patrick and Thomas, Jeffrey (2023). When flow meets business: A study of mountain biking. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 4 (2) 100102, 100102. doi: 10.1016/j.annale.2023.100102
Other Outputs: Micromobility clearly boosts tourism in Brisbane
Buning, Richard (2023, 10 26). Micromobility clearly boosts tourism in Brisbane Zag Daily
Journal Article: What Makes Collegiate Sport Club Programs Successful? Exploration of How Success Is Measured and Perceived
Lower-Hoppe, Leeann M., Talcott, Ali, Cioletti, Alina, Springer, Daniel, Czekanski, W. Andrew and Buning, Richard J. (2023). What Makes Collegiate Sport Club Programs Successful? Exploration of How Success Is Measured and Perceived. Recreational Sports Journal, 47 (2), 148-158. doi: 10.1177/15588661231203969
Bikeability for transportation: tools and data for research and practice
(2021–2023) Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network
Transport Innovation and Research Hub
(2020–2023) Brisbane City Council
Activators and Barriers to Youth Outdoor Recreation in Queensland
(2019) Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation Incorporated
Active sport tourism: global insights and future directions
Heather J. Gibson, Matthew Lamont, Millicent Kennelly and Richard J. Buning eds. (2020). Active sport tourism: global insights and future directions. New York, NY, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429199578
Cycling: a path to physical activity through transportation, sport and leisure
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2018). Cycling: a path to physical activity through transportation, sport and leisure. Routledge handbook of physical activity policy and practice. (pp. 451-463) edited by Joe Piggin, Louise Mansfield and Mike Weed. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315672779-32
The role of travel conditions in cycling tourism: implications for destination and event management
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2018). The role of travel conditions in cycling tourism: implications for destination and event management. Sport Tourism and Sustainable Destinations. (pp. 13-32) edited by B. D. Moyle, T. D. Hinch and J. E. S. Higham. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.
Small scale active sport tourism is international business
Buning, Richard J. and Krohn, Brian D. (2017). Small scale active sport tourism is international business. Routledge handbook of international sport business. (pp. 333-345) edited by Mark Dodds, Kevin Heisey and Aila Ahonen. London: Routledge.
When flow meets business: A study of mountain biking
Hardy, Anne, Buning, Richard J., Boudreau, Patrick and Thomas, Jeffrey (2023). When flow meets business: A study of mountain biking. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 4 (2) 100102, 100102. doi: 10.1016/j.annale.2023.100102
Lower-Hoppe, Leeann M., Talcott, Ali, Cioletti, Alina, Springer, Daniel, Czekanski, W. Andrew and Buning, Richard J. (2023). What Makes Collegiate Sport Club Programs Successful? Exploration of How Success Is Measured and Perceived. Recreational Sports Journal, 47 (2), 148-158. doi: 10.1177/15588661231203969
The development of new social worlds through obstacle course racing
Derom, Inge and Buning, Richard J. (2022). The development of new social worlds through obstacle course racing. Leisure Sciences. doi: 10.1080/01490400.2022.2154292
Rundio, Amy and Buning, Richard (2022). Collegiate sport club service delivery: moving between motivations and constraints to beneficial outcomes. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 40 (2), 2-18. doi: 10.18666/jpra-2021-11046
Well-being and running events in Qatar: The Ooredoo Doha Marathon
Filo, Kevin, Kennelly, Millicent, Buning, Richard J. and Sobh, Rana (2022). Well-being and running events in Qatar: The Ooredoo Doha Marathon. Event Management, 26 (1), 73-87. doi: 10.3727/152599521X16192004803629
Mirehie, Mona, Gibson, Heather J., Buning, Richard J., Coble, Cassandra and Flaherty, Meredith (2021). Towards an understanding of family travel decision-making processes in the context of youth sport tourism. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 21 100644, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2021.100644
Rundio, Amy and Buning, Richard J. (2021). Initiation and introduction into sport participation: new member experiences with collegiate sport clubs. Recreational Sports Journal, 45 (2), 155886612110164-93. doi: 10.1177/15588661211016432
Visitor bikeshare usage: tracking visitor spatiotemporal behavior using big data
Buning, Richard J. and Lulla, Vijay (2021). Visitor bikeshare usage: tracking visitor spatiotemporal behavior using big data. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29 (4), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/09669582.2020.1825456
Running through travel career progression: social worlds and active sport tourism
Aicher, Thomas J., Buning, Richard J. and Newland, Brianna L. (2020). Running through travel career progression: social worlds and active sport tourism. Journal of Sport Management, 34 (6), 542-553. doi: 10.1123/jsm.2019-0256
Mountain bike tourism economic impacts: A critical analysis of academic and practitioner studies
Buning, Richard J. and Lamont, Matthew (2020). Mountain bike tourism economic impacts: A critical analysis of academic and practitioner studies. Tourism Economics, 27 (3) ARTN 1354816620901955, 135481662090195-509. doi: 10.1177/1354816620901955
A case study of the US mountain bike tourism market
Buning, Richard J., Cole, Zachary and Lamont, Matthew (2019). A case study of the US mountain bike tourism market. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 25 (4), 515-527. doi: 10.1177/1356766719842321
Buning, Richard J. (2018). Sport tourism development. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 23 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1080/14775085.2018.1548814
Sato, Shintaro, Kim, Hany, Buning, Richard J. and Harada, Munehiko (2018). Adventure tourism motivation and destination loyalty: a comparison of decision and non-decision makers. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 8, 74-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2016.12.003
Introduction to the special issue active sport tourism
Gibson, Heather J., Lamont, Matthew, Kennelly, Millicent and Buning, Richard J. (2018). Introduction to the special issue active sport tourism. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 22 (2), 83-91. doi: 10.1080/14775085.2018.1466350
Participation versus nonparticipation in a charity running event
Mirehie, Mona, Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2017). Participation versus nonparticipation in a charity running event. Event Management, 21 (6), 639-652. doi: 10.3727/152599517X15073047237188
The role of travel conditions in cycling tourism: implications for destination and event management
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2016). The role of travel conditions in cycling tourism: implications for destination and event management. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 20 (3-4), 175-193. doi: 10.1080/14775085.2016.1155474
Exploring the trajectory of active-sport-event travel careers: a social worlds perspective
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather J. (2016). Exploring the trajectory of active-sport-event travel careers: a social worlds perspective. Journal of Sport Management, 30 (3), 265-281. doi: 10.1123/jsm.2015-0213
Visitor expenditure within a mountain bike event portfolio: determinants, outcomes, and variations
Buning, Richard J., Cole, Zachary D. and McNamee, Jeff B. (2016). Visitor expenditure within a mountain bike event portfolio: determinants, outcomes, and variations. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 20 (2), 103-122. doi: 10.1080/14775085.2016.1239547
Differentiating mass participant sport event consumers: traditional versus non-traditional events
Buning, Richard J. and Walker, Matthew (2016). Differentiating mass participant sport event consumers: traditional versus non-traditional events. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 25 (1), 47-58.
The evolution of active-sport-event travel careers
Buning, Richard J. and Gibson, Heather (2015). The evolution of active-sport-event travel careers. Journal of Sport Management, 29 (5), 555-569. doi: 10.1123/jsm.2014-0215
Buning, Richard J., Coble, Cassie and Kerwin, Shannon (2015). The progressive involvement of youth in niche sport: the perspective of youth participants and their parents. Journal of Amateur Sport, 1 (1), 52-80. doi: 10.17161/jas.v1i1.4921
In defence of the familiar: innovating in business schools through slow histories
Middleton, S., Wallin, A., Peters, M., Kriz, A., Eckberg, S. and Buning, R. (2020). In defence of the familiar: innovating in business schools through slow histories. Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society., Christchurch, New Zealand, 30 January-2 February 2020.
In defence of the familiar: innovating in business schools through slow histories
Middleton, S., Wallin, A., Peters, M., Kriz, A., Eckberg, S. and Buning, R. (2019). In defence of the familiar: innovating in business schools through slow histories. Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management, Cairns, QLD Australia, 3-6 December 2019.
Middleton, S., Wallin, A., Peters, M., Eckberg, S., Kriz, A. and Buning, R. (2019). Ending the production line? How learning university history can influence different thinking about business school academic careers.. Academy of Management Learning and Education Organization Studies Paper Development Workshop., Brisbane, QLD Australia, 9 November 2019.
Micromobility clearly boosts tourism in Brisbane
Buning, Richard (2023, 10 26). Micromobility clearly boosts tourism in Brisbane Zag Daily
Buning, Richard J. and Pham, Wendy (2023, 09 11). Five years on, Brisbane’s e-scooters and e-bikes are winning over tourists and residents as they open up the city The Conversation
Buning, Richard J., Pham, Wendy and Chen, Milly (2023). So, what do you think about eScooters and eBikes?: Understanding visitor and resident experiences and perceptions with micromobility in Brisbane. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: The University of Queensland, Business School.
Why e-scooters are the 'public mobility glue' for urban transport
Buning, Richard, Corcoran, Jonathan, Rahbar, Maisie, McKercher, Bob, Pojani, Dorina, Sigler, Thomas, Zou, Frank and Hardy, Anne (2023, 01 25). Why e-scooters are the 'public mobility glue' for urban transport Contact Magazine
Buning, Richard and Coble, Cassandra (2022, 01 19). Why massive new youth sports facilities may not lead to the tourist boom many communities hope for when they build them. The Conversation
Buning, Richard and Chen, Milly (2022). 2022 Urban Climb member study. IBrisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2022 Urban Climb staff survey report
Buning, Richard and Chen, Milly (2022). 2022 Urban Climb staff survey report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Mountain biking gives this Tasmanian town a sustainable future.Logging does not.
Buning, Richard (2021, 11 12). Mountain biking gives this Tasmanian town a sustainable future.Logging does not. The Conversation
Buning, Richard (2021, 03 17). When 1 in 3 users are tourists, that changes the bike-share equation for cities, that changes the the bike-share equation for cities The Conversation
2018 Urban Climb member report
Buning, Richard J., Oren, Olivier and Kulczycki, Cory (2019). 2018 Urban Climb member report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Youth outdoor recreation in Queensland: barriers and activators
Buning, Richard J., Pegg, Shane and Oren, Olivier (2019). Youth outdoor recreation in Queensland: barriers and activators. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Bikeability for transportation: tools and data for research and practice
(2021–2023) Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network
Transport Innovation and Research Hub
(2020–2023) Brisbane City Council
Activators and Barriers to Youth Outdoor Recreation in Queensland
(2019) Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation Incorporated