Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Skip to main content Skip to side navigation

Ismail Shaheer image (2023)

Lecturer

Otago Business School
Email  ismail.shaheer@otago.ac.nz

Ismail has extensive experience in tourism marketing, having worked for the Maldives government for over ten years, promoting the Maldives as a tourist destination.

He draws on this industry experience to teach tourism and marketing courses, and actively supports various tourism stakeholders, both public and private, in the Maldives.

He holds a PhD in Tourism from the University of Otago and a Master’s in Tourism Marketing from the University of Surrey (UK). He has taught at the Maldives National University, the University of Otago, and Lincoln University.

Ismail’s research focuses on tourist behaviour, ethics, social media, and media-induced tourism, with a particular interest in video game-induced tourism. His current research projects cover video games and event tourism, tourist photography, negative tourist behaviour and its broader impacts, dental tourism, and influencer marketing related to well-being.

Ismail is on the Editorial Board for Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (Springer Nature).

Teaching responsibilities

Student supervision

PhD/DBA students

  • Mohammad Paygah
    PhD – Exploring predictors of AI-powered direct-to-consumer healthcare app adoption
  • Maryam Sadin
    PhD – The digital nomads’ experience in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Claire Gullidge
    PhD – Strategic branding of Government Emergency Agencies: shaping public perception; before, during, and after the disaster response
  • Niquaila Bremner
    PhD – Understanding and reducing the impact of film on mental health stigma through social marketing
  • Sela Pole-Fehoko
    DBA – An exploratory study on the Pacific university student experiences and attitudes towards the use of generative artificial intelligence programmes

Masters' students

  • Bella Taylor
    Enhancing Dunedin airport’s social media engagement: Insights from Competitor Analysis (Graduated)
  • Ollie Mathews
    Exploring young sports fans attitudes surround AR-enabled sports broadcasts (Graduated)

Office hours

Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:00pm

Publications

Shaheer, I., Nayak, N., & Polus, R. (2025). Challenges and opportunities for sacred journeys: A media representation of the impact of COVID-19. In T.-C. Huan, A. K. Fotiadis & N. Stylos (Eds.), Religious tourism: Industry dynamics, emerging trends and contemporary issues. (pp. 114-120). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003531470 Chapter in Book - Other

Thyne, M., Robertson, K., & Shaheer, I. (2025). To be or not to be a cruise destination: Residents’ support? Anatolia. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13032917.2025.2470744 Journal - Research Article

Shaheer, I. (2025). Blue Ocean Strategy to develop a competitive advantage in the guesthouse sector in the Maldives. Tourism Cases. doi: 10.1079/tourism.2025.0003 Journal - Research Article

Lee, C., Hallak, R., & Shaheer, I. (2024). Human capital, social capital, and psychological capital of tourism entrepreneurs. In R. Hallak & C. Lee (Eds.), Handbook of tourism entrepreneurship. (pp. 56-68). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9781803920023.00012 Chapter in Book - Research

Polus, R., Shaheer, I., & Nayak, N. P. (2024). Pilgrimage in the COVID-19 Era: Uncovering supply side challenges and opportunities in media representations. International Journal of Religious Tourism & Pilgrimage, 12(1), 5. Retrieved from https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp/vol12/iss1/5 Journal - Research Article

Back to top