About

Creating better tourism for people, places and the planet through research, policy and practice.

Tourism is one of the world's most influential industries, shaping communities, economies, cultures and environments. Managed well, it can drive sustainable development, strengthen communities and protect cultural heritage. Managed poorly, it can contribute to environmental degradation, social inequity and destination decline.

Professor Joseph M. Cheer works with governments, international organisations, destinations and industry leaders to help address these challenges through evidence-based research, practical policy advice and strategic leadership.

His work focuses on creating tourism systems that are more sustainable, resilient and inclusive, ensuring tourism delivers lasting benefits for people, places and the environment.

Professor Joseph M. Cheer is an internationally recognised authority on sustainable tourism, destination governance, resilience and tourism futures.

As a Professor of Sustainable Tourism and Heritage at Western Sydney University, Australia, his work bridges world-leading research with practical policy and industry engagement. From 2022–2025, he has been ranked among the world's Top 2% of researchers in Sport, Leisure and Tourism.

He serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Tourism Geographies, one of the discipline's leading international journals, Chairs the International Geographical Union (IGU) Commission on Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, and advises organisations including UN Tourism, the Asian Development Bank and the World Economic Forum.

He previously co-chaired the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on the Future of Sustainable Tourism, helping shape international and cross-sectoral dialogue about tourism's role in creating more resilient and sustainable destinations.

Professor Cheer also holds adjunct and visiting professorships at leading universities in China, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand and South Africa. In addition to his teaching role, his research has attracted competitive funding from organisations including the Australian Research Council, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australia-Japan Foundation, Australia-China Council and Tourism Research Australia, among others.

He has published 15 books, more than 70 book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as authored and informed influential reports, policy publications and discussion papers for organisations including the World Economic Forum, UN Tourism, UNESCO, the Asian Development Bank and Tourism Research Australia.

A respected keynote speaker and trusted media commentator, Joseph regularly provides evidence-based analysis for international media including the BBC, ABC Australia, SBS, CNBC, Channel News Asia, CCTV China, Nikkei Asia and The Guardian, among others, helping audiences understand the major issues shaping tourism worldwide.

Joseph is an experienced educator with over two decades at universities including in Australia at Monash University, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria University, and abroad including various assignments at Wakayama University (Japan), Hainan University (China), CVM University (India), Australia Pacific Technical College (Vanuatu), among others.

Before entering academia, Professor Cheer built a successful career in international hospitality, the private sector (corporate finance and management consulting) and in government with Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This rare combination of commercial, government and academic experience enables him to bridge research and practice, helping destinations, governments and organisations develop tourism strategies that are both evidence-based and practically-minded.

Consultancy & Advisory Work

Keynote & Public Speaking

Press & Media