Welcome to the Center for Sustainable Tourism
We are dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism throughout our region and across North Carolina and the nation through innovation in graduate education, leadership development, community consultation, and collaborative research. Devoted to implementing sustainable practices in business operations, public policies, and personal travel behaviors, the Center offers solutions to challenges facing the tourism industry and destination communities as they balance economic viability with socio-cultural and environmental enhancement and equity.
Examples of sustainable practices in North Carolina 
Sustainable Tourism Tips: Greening North Carolina Travel  Sustainability is a growing trend in all industries and is now finding its way into mainstream tourism. The increasing popularity of sustainability has led to differing understandings of what sustainability really means, so to help clarify for industry professionals, the Center has developed a working definition that includes those actions that contribute to a balanced and healthy economy by generating tourism-related jobs, revenues and taxes while protecting and enhancing the destination’s socio-cultural, historical, natural and built resources for the enjoyment and well-being of both residents and visitors. The Center, in partnership with Sustainable Travel International, has identified twelve action areas where tourism professionals can address issues of sustainability: 1) greenhouse gas emissions, 2) solid waste management, 3) freshwater consumption, 4) wastewater management, 5) energy efficiency, 6) ecosystem and biodiversity conservation, 7) land use management, 8) air and noise pollution, 9) respect for local cultures and communities, 10) economic benefits to local communities, 11) responsible purchasing, and 12) education for employees and clients.
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Climate, Weather, and Tourism Workshop
On November 14-15, 2008, in partnership with the North Carolina Sea Grant, the National Climatic Data Center and the East Carolina University Institute for Coastal Science and Policy, the Center conducted a workshop to address the complexities of the relationship between climate seasonality and variability and weather, and their affect on the business and economic sectors of tourism.
To access pdf versions of the presentations please go to the workshop program and click on the presenter's name.
Current Activities The Renewable Energy in Tourism Initiative (RETI), a joint effort of the Center, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and the University of Colorado at Boulder's Energy Initiative, has established a new website on which are posted best practices in energy use for the following tourism sectors—accommodations, airlines, cruise lines, public lands, ski resorts and tour operators. Please visit www.renewabletourism.org to participate in the public comment phase. |
