Biography
Caecilia Shenshen He is a PhD student in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo. She holds a Master of Tourism Administration from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from McGill University. Her research focuses on the socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism, with particular attention to sustainable tourism management and Indigenous cultural heritage preservation. Caecilia has contributed to various research and consulting projects, including work with the Caribbean Tourism Organization and audits for Green Globe Certification. Her work centers on integrating sustainability principles and community-based approaches into tourism development, with a strong emphasis on ethical practices and cultural integrity.
Research interests
Regenerative tourism; storytelling; relationality; community-led tourism; place-based tourism strategies; transformative learning; decolonial methodologies; participatory action research.
As a critical tourism researcher, Caecilia’s current research explores the intersections of regenerative tourism and Indigenous community development. She studies how tourism can support cultural resilience, community well-being, and Indigenous-led governance, while also challenging colonial structures embedded in tourism knowledge and practice. Her work aims to contribute to more inclusive and culturally grounded forms of tourism.