Rifti is a globally oriented think-tank for the regional development and tourism creation in Osaka, Kansai ; Rifti aims to be the center of excellence in these areas of research. Today tourism has the potential to provide regional economic, cultural and environmental benefits for both the people in the region and those coming here from all over the world. Rifti has been established in Osaka Prefecture University to provide world-class research for Osaka-Kansai as a destination for in-bound tourism, along with the necessary marketing, and the contribution to the tourism and hospitality industry here.A collaborative effort, based on new tourism trends, has been made between RIFTI’s role in academia and the tourism industry, and their interdependence with government and the local communities. Through these collaborative efforts Rifti will support research, instruction, and extension/outreach activities essential to the regional development, industry practice, local community development, and tourism creation.

Objectives : Rifti aims to support and provide direction in building high-level competencies in national and international research collaboration within the tourism business practice.

The primary areas of research will include:
・Creative city and urban tourism
・Landscape design and tourism resource management
・Destination development and participatory tourism planning
・Leisure-time consumption
・Art and cultural heritage as a base for experience tourism
・Tourism policy and community development