Machiel Lamers appointed Personal Professor in Tourism and Environmental Change

From the icy wilderness of Antarctica to the coral reefs of Indonesia and the Caribbean, Lamers explores how tourism can pose risks to biodiversity and local livelihoods, while also offering opportunities for sustainable development. Since his student days, he has been fascinated by the ways in which travel shapes societies, economies, and perceptions of nature. His research critically examines the double-edged nature of tourism: providing joy and education, but also bringing environmental and social pressures.

Guiding tourism towards sustainability

Lamers investigates how tourism can be directed towards sustainability through governance, innovation, and local agency. His focus is on marine and polar regions, where climate extremes and ecological vulnerability are prominent. He analyses the growing pressures from rising visitor numbers and expectations, and the implications of policy measures such as conservation targets and expanded protected areas. His work offers evidence-based strategies for managing tourism in ways that support both nature conservation and community wellbeing.

A global research portfolio

Currently, Lamers leads two major research projects funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The ANTARC-SHIP project (2023–2027) and TRANS-ACT (2026–2028) both examine the governance and impacts of tourism in Antarctica. He also plays a key role in INREEF, a Wageningen Global Sustainability Programme project studying the role of tourism in the governance of Marine Protected Areas in Indonesia and the Caribbean.

Beyond academia, Lamers contributes to international policy through the World Meteorological Organization’s Polar Coupled Assessment and Prediction for Services (PCAPS) programme. He is also a member of the Dutch delegation to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, advising on tourism regulation and environmental protection in polar regions.

Strengthening the link between science and policy

Lamers has been involved in WUR's BSc Tourism and MSc Tourism, Environment and Society programmes since 2010. In his new role, he will continue to build bridges between scientific research and policy development. He is especially interested in how emerging technologies, such as environmental forecasting and monitoring systems, can inform sustainable tourism practices and enhance international collaboration.

"Tourism is more than leisure; it is a global force shaping ecosystems, economies, and lives," says Lamers. "My aim is to help steer that force in directions that benefit both people and the planet."

Lamers earned his PhD from Maastricht University, where he researched the regulation and sustainability challenges of tourism in Antarctica. His appointment further strengthens WUR's commitment to advancing knowledge and solutions in sustainable tourism.