Professor Mimi Li
Tourism, and the Human Experience.
Professor Mimi Li explores how travel shapes behaviour, identity and well-being—and how emerging technologies can make tourism more meaningful and inclusive.
- Professor, School of Hotel and Tourism Management
- Associate Director, Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
100+
Refereed Journal Articles
20+
Principal Investigator Projects
2007
At PolyU SHTM Since
Global
Research & Speaking Reach
About
A human-centred view of tourism
Professor Mimi Li is a scholar of tourism and hospitality marketing, tourist behaviour and tourism planning. Her work asks how travel experiences influence people—from childhood and family relationships to identity, mental well-being and social inclusion.
Her recent research connects behavioural insight with artificial intelligence, virtual reality, brain–computer interfaces and other emerging technologies. The goal is not technology for its own sake, but more meaningful experiences and more responsible tourism futures.
Academic Journey
Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Purdue University
M.A. in Human Geography
University of Waterloo
B.S. in Physical Geography
Peking University
Research
Five research pathways
Distinct but connected lines of enquiry, moving between behavioural science, technology and tourism practice.
- 01
Tourist Behaviour & Experience
The emotional, sensory and social processes that make travel memorable, meaningful and transformative.
- 02
Mental Well-being & Inclusion
Tourism, neurotechnology and restorative experiences as pathways to psychological well-being and accessible participation.
- 03
Children, Families & Neurodiversity
How children and families experience, negotiate and benefit from travel—including families with autistic children.
- 04
Identity, Mobility & Destinations
How mobility, diaspora travel, public space and destination development shape identity and belonging.
- 05
Digital Tourism
How AI, virtual environments and digital media reshape tourism marketing, decision-making and experience.
- Contact
Start a conversation
For speaking invitations, research partnerships or media enquiries, email is the fastest route.
Selected research pathway: Five research pathwaysEmail Professor Li
Selected Publications
Recent work
A short selection of recent peer-reviewed work. Titles appear in their original English form.
- 2026
Brain-computer interfaces in accessible tourism
Tourism Management
Neurotechnology × Accessibility - 2026
Travel as Transformation: Parental Coping and Adaptation with Autistic Children
Journal of Travel Research
Family × Neurodiversity - 2025
Virtual reality tourism as a therapeutic tool
Tourism Management
VR × Mental Well-being - 2025
National Identity and Attachment Among Overseas Chinese Children: Diaspora Tourism Experiences
Journal of Travel Research
Diaspora × Identity
Speaking & Public Impact
Bringing research into the room
Available for keynotes, panel conversations, executive briefings and research partnerships across tourism, technology and human experience.
- 01
Reframing Destination Marketing in the Age of AI
Keynote topic, 2026 - 02
Tech-Healing: How Smart Tourism Ecosystems Foster Mental Well-being and Inclusive Revitalization
Keynote topic, 2026 - 03
New Frontiers in Neuro-Management: From Organisational Decision-Making to Experience Management
Keynote topic, 2026
Enquiry types
Keynote Speaking
Conference keynotes and plenary sessions on tourism, technology and human experience.
Academic Collaboration
Joint research projects, doctoral supervision and international scholarly exchange.
Industry Research
Applied studies with destinations, hospitality groups and technology partners.
Media Commentary
Expert perspective on tourism behaviour, smart tourism and inclusive travel.
Contact
Start a conversation
For speaking invitations, research partnerships or media enquiries, email is the fastest route.
Email Professor Li