Building Tourism-Based Sustainable Communities in Sparsely Populated Areas

Yukio Yotsumoto is Professor in the College of Sustainability and Tourism at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan. He received a Bachelor's Degree in economics (Soka University, Japan), a Master's Degree in agricultural extension education (The University of Georgia, USA) and a PhD. in sociology (The University of Kentucky, USA). He actively researches rural community development and sustainable tourism.

Carolin Funck obtained her PhD from the Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg. She is Professor of human geography at Hiroshima University, Japan, where she teaches in the Department for Integrated Global Studies and the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Her research focuses on the development of tourism in Japan and sustainable island tourism. She is the author of “Tourismus und Peripherie in Japan” and co-author of “Japanese Tourism”.

Malcolm Cooper is Emeritus Professor, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. Previously, he taught at and managed Universities in Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom, and was a city planner in Australia and New Zealand. He is a recipient of the Australian Centennial Medal, a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, and has published over 170 books and papers. He actively researches wellness and community resilience.

 

Kazem Vafadari is Professor in the College of Sustainability and Tourism at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan. His expertise lies in tourism applications of agricultural heritage landscapes, community building, rural revitalization and destination branding. He has collaborated with international organizations such as United Nations University, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and UN Tourism as a scientific committee member and advisory board member.