Rene van der Duim

Rene van der Duim is a Professor in Cultural Geography at Wageningen University's School of Social Sciences (WASS). His research focuses on tourism's socio-cultural and environmental dimensions, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. He has authored 194 publications, supervised 18 PhD candidates, and led 20 research projects addressing topics such as conservation tourism, policy networks, and sustainable development. Van der Duim serves as an editorial board member for ATLAS Tourism and Leisure Review and frequently engages in policy dialogues through media interviews and keynote addresses. His work bridges academic inquiry with practical applications in landscape governance, community partnerships, and tourism ethics.

Research interests emphasize actor-network theory (ANT), policy arrangements, and institutional innovations within tourism systems. Key areas include Uganda's wildlife management conflicts, Zanzibar's climate adaptation, and Kenya's conservation partnerships. Van der Duim's projects often involve cross-sector collaboration, such as analyzing funding mechanisms for WWF's conservation efforts and evaluating post-pandemic tourism sustainability frameworks in Indonesia.

• 194+ peer-reviewed publications across journals like Journal of Sport and Tourism and Tourism Planning and Development
• Active supervision of 19 PhD projects (1 ongoing, 18 completed)
• Lead researcher in projects funded by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and international NGOs
• Keynote speaker at events like 'Duurzaam Weekend Den Bosch' and academic conferences

His work has been cited in 28 Mendeley reader groups and referenced in encyclopedic contributions such as the Encyclopedia of Tourism. Current research explores tensions between tourism development and ecological preservation, with special focus on marginalized communities in conservation zones.