Joseph M. Cheer is a Professor of Sustainable Tourism and Heritage, and formerly Associate Dean, International, School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, Australia.

In 2022 to 2025, he was listed in the Top 2% of researchers in the Sport, Leisure and Tourism field.

He is presently Co-Editor-in-Chief of Tourism Geographies and Chair of International Geographical Union Commission on Tourism, Leisure and Global Change (2024-2028).

He is a past Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on the Future of Sustainable Tourism (2023-2024) and past Co-Chair of the American Association of Geographers, Recreation, Tourism and Sport (AAGRTS) group (2024 – 2028), and newly elected 

Joseph is a past board member of PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association), an advisory board member UNWTO Best Tourism Villages initiative, and an empanelled consultant to the Asian Development Bank PSDI (Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative).

Joseph holds adjunct professorships at Wakayama University (Japan), Hainan University (China), AUT (New Zealand), Silpakorn University, Thailand, and the University of Johannesburg (South Africa).

He has received research funding from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS), the Australian Research Council (ARC), Tourism Research Australia, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT), Australia Japan Foundation, and Australia China Council, among others.

Joseph has published 14 books, over 70 book chapters and journal articles, and non-traditional publications for The Conversation, World Economic Forum, UNESCO, Asian Development Bank, and Global Research Institute, among others.

Joseph is regularly quoted or invited to provide commentary to mainstream media including recently in Asia Nikkei, The Guardian, ABC Australia, SBS, BBC World, CCTV China, CNBC, Channel News Asia, Yahoo!News, and Radio NZ, among others.