Temesgen (Tom) Assefa

Chief Consultant, JTB Tourism Research & Consulting

Dr. Temesgen Assefa is a Chief Consultant at JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co., the think-tank subsidiary of JTB Corporation, one of the world’s leading travel agencies. He specializes in a broad range of tourism-related fields including sustainable tourism development, market research, destination strategy, traveler behavior, and tourism marketing. Drawing from a background in travel economics and sustainable tourism, he brings an interdisciplinary perspective that bridges academic knowledge with real-world policy and business applications.

At JTB Tourism Research & Consulting, he plays a central role in various high-impact consulting assignments both in Japan and internationally. His recent work includes formulating tourism development master plans, designing promotional strategies for national tourism boards, and supporting tourism crisis management research. He has also led Japan outbound travel market research projects, including initiatives aimed at increasing Japanese travelers to Queensland, Australia.

With extensive experience in project leadership, international cooperation, and tourism development, Dr. Assefa continues to support the advancement of Japan’s tourism sector through research, planning, and global knowledge exchange.