James Hanrahan

Dr. James Hanrahan is a Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism Management at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Department of Marketing, Tourism & Sport. He serves as Director of the UNWTO Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory Ireland and STORYATU. With over 20 years in academia, he has taught globally and supervised numerous PhDs focusing on sustainable tourism management, carbon footprint measurement, and tourism entrepreneurship. His research emphasizes sustainable tourism indicators, decarbonization, biosecurity, and smart technologies for net-zero destinations.

Education: PhD in Social Sciences, Master in Humanities and the Arts. External roles include Chair of GSTC Accreditation Impartiality Committee, Member of Tourism Panel on Climate Change (TPCC), and various boards like Clare Sustainable Tourism Green Team.

Research interests span sustainable tourism development, biosecurity risk management, and climate change mitigation. Key projects include EU-funded initiatives such as Polycentric Tourism and Tourism as a Service. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Publications focus on destination management, biosecurity, and decarbonization strategies. Collaborations include the University of Évora and multiple international organizations. Grants and advisory roles highlight his commitment to bridging academia and industry for sustainable tourism solutions.

Labs/Teams: Sustainable Tourism Observatory (STO), DICE Innovation Academy, Mobilities Research Group (MRG), and CRiSP (Centre for Research in Social Professions).