Vafadari Kazem

Professor Kazem Vafadari (PhD) is director of International Center for Asia Pacific Tourism (iCAPt); academic director of the Kunisaki city research center for world agriculture heritage, Oita, Japan and Division Head, Graduate school of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) Tourism and Hospitality (THP) Beppu, Japan. He worked with United Nations University and Kanazawa University in Japan before joining APU in 2011. He is an expert on Tourism and natural resource management and tourism applications of agriculture heritage landscapes. His research background also includes community building and rural revitalization and destination branding. He worked with United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as an advisor and scientific committee member for the Globally Important Agriculture Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program. He works with UNWTO as advisory board member for QUEST program. His research interest includes development of health and wellness destinations through promoting edible and medicinal plants food tourism in agriculture heritage landscapes.