Greg Richards

Greg Richards is Professor of Placemaking and Events at Breda University of Applied Sciences and Professor of Leisure Studies at the University of Tilburg in The Netherlands. With over 3,800 citations and 215 research outputs, he is a leading academic in cultural tourism, creative tourism, and event studies. His work focuses on the creative use of space for cultural, social and economic development, with extensive experience in tourism research and education.

His research interests span cultural tourism, creative tourism, event management, placemaking, urban tourism, and gastronomy tourism. Richards has worked on projects for numerous national governments, national tourism organisations and municipalities. His major publications include Cultural Tourism in Europe, The Global Nomad: Theory and Practice in Backpacker Travel, Eventful Cities: Cultural Management and Urban Revitalisation, and The SAGE Handbook of New Urban Studies.

His recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a consistent focus on the evolving relationship between tourism, culture, and urban development. His work explores cutting-edge topics including the curatorial turn in tourism, placemaking strategies, gastronomy tourism development, and the impacts of digital technologies on visitor experiences. Richards has developed a distinctive research trajectory that bridges academic theory with practical applications for destination development.

As an active researcher, Richards serves on editorial boards including Event Management and the Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events. He has led significant projects including InclusiveCity: Critical Placemaking for Inclusive Cities and SmartCulTour: Smart Cultural Tourism as a Driver of Sustainable Development of European Regions.

Richards' work has significantly shaped the theoretical and practical understanding of how events, creativity, and cultural resources can be leveraged for sustainable urban and regional development. His research continues to influence both academic discourse and practical applications in tourism and event management worldwide.