RESHMA SUCHERAN

I am an Associate Professor and Research Chair in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism at Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa, with over 28 years of academic and professional experience. I hold a PhD in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and my work has led me to become recognized in sustainable tourism development, climate change adaptation in tourism, and environmental management practices.

At DUT, I lecture both undergraduate and postgraduate students in subjects such as Sustainable Tourism Development and Planning, Tourism and Environmental Management, Crisis and Disaster Management and Research Methodology. . As the Departmental Research Chair, I oversee research ethics, supervise research proposals, and advise on funding opportunities to enhance research within our faculty. I have supervised numerous master’s and doctoral students, covering research topics from smart tourism and the impacts of COVID-19 on tourism to sustainability practices in tourism operations.

Beyond my teaching responsibilities, I hold various institutional roles, including positions on the Faculty Research Committee, the Faculty Research Ethics Committee, and the Faculty Board. I coordinate internal program evaluations for Tourism Management and have contributed to program recirculation and quality assurance efforts in the department. Previously, I served as the Program Team Leader for Tourism Management and was an Executive Member of the Tourism Educators of South Africa (TESA). I am a member and the leader of the Tourism Community of Practice at the BRICS Research Institute.

My research portfolio reflects my dedication to critical issues in sustainability. I have published extensively in accredited journals, contributed book chapters, and led projects supported by prestigious grants, such as the Erasmus+ KA107 program scholarship and the Women in Research and Innovation Program Grant at DUT. I have been honored for my research contributions with awards, including the DUT Faculty of Management Sciences Researcher of the Year Award.

My international collaborations extend my research reach. I have presented guest lectures at institutions such as Chandigarh University in India and Munich University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and I am engaged in ongoing partnerships with researchers in Canada, Australia, and the BRICS+ network. Recently, I chaired the International Conference on Innovation and Regenerative Trends in Tourism and Hospitality Industry (IRTTHI-2024) and served as a session chair at the BRICS RI Research Conference in Beijing.

As an editorial board member for the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management and a reviewer for multiple esteemed journals, I stay at the forefront of tourism research. My work has influenced policy on sustainable tourism, especially in areas such as water and waste management, energy resilience, and crisis response. I remain committed to advancing sustainable tourism, environmental management, and adaptive strategies in response to climate change, which I consider central to the future of tourism.