Kumi Kato, PhD (Queensland), is a professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Director at the Center for Tourism Research, Wakayama University, Japan.

She is also an Honorary Associate professor at the University of Queensland, Australia. Her research area includes sustainability, community resilience and ethics related to tourism.

Recent publications include:

Kato, K. (2017). Debating sustainability in Debating Sustainability in Tourism Development: Resilience, Traditional Knowledge and Community: A Post-disaster Perspective, Tourism Planning & Development, DOI: 10.1080/21568316.2017.1312508
Kato, K., & Horita, Y. (2017). ‘Tourism Research on Japan—Overview on Major Trends: Japanese and English-language Materials, Tourism Planning & Development’, DOI: 10.1080/21568316.2017.1325392
Kato, K. (2015). ‘Australia’s whaling discourse: global norm, green consciousness and identity’, Journal of Australian Studies, Vol. 39 (4), 477-493 (John Barrett Award for Best Paper)
Kato, K. (2013). ‘As Fukushima unfolds: Media meltdown and public empowerment’
In Lester, L., & Hutchins, B. Environmental Conflicts and the Media. Peter Lang