Christopher J. Hayes

Dr Christopher J. Hayes is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism & Events Management at Teesside University International Business School. He serves as Course Leader for BA (Hons) Tourism Management and BA (Hons) International Tourism Management programs, leveraging his interdisciplinary expertise in languages, cultures, and tourism studies.

• PhD in Global Language-Based Area Studies, Cardiff University (2019)
• BA in German & Japanese, Cardiff University (2014)

Christopher's research focuses on international perceptions of Japan, particularly destination image analysis in tourism, media representation of Japan, and historical narratives from world expositions. His work bridges cultural studies with tourism management, examining how events like the Rugby World Cup and post-COVID recovery shape tourism campaigns.

His publications highlight interdisciplinary trends:

• Analysis of Japanese hospitality ('omotenashi') in sports events
• Media's role in constructing travel narratives
• Place-making strategies in peripheral spaces
• Critical discourse analysis of Orientalist stereotypes
• Post-pandemic tourism policy shifts

Scientific awards include external funding from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and the British Association for Japanese Studies. He actively collaborates with institutions like the Japan Foundation Endowment Committee and contributes to academic networks such as the Mutual Images Research Association.