Welcome to the
Center for Sustainable Tourism
Message from the Director, Dr. Patrick Long
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Welcome to the Center for Sustainable Tourism. The Center advances research and outreach aimed at affecting changes in tourism business practices, public policies, and individual traveler behaviors that lessen any negative impacts of travel while enhancing travel's positive outcomes for both travelers and their host communities. The Center was
originally established in 1998, and relocated to East Carolina
University in the fall of 2007. The Master of Science in Sustainable
Tourism degree program began its course offerings in the fall of 2009. Our philosophy is that all participants in the tourism experience can, together, protect the environmental health and socio-cultural distinctiveness of tourism destinations while contributing to economic vitality. At the Center, we work across disciplines, often supporting inter-disciplinary teams for teaching, research, and outreach. Our collaborative approach capitalizes on the intellectual wealth and institutional capacity that East Carolina University can bring to the study and practice of sustainability in tourism. We are proud that our MS in Sustainable Tourism-the first such degree program in the nation- is multi- and inter-disciplinary, and that the degree is conferred by our Graduate School. We welcome you to join us in ensuring that travel remains an integral part of everyone's life and that the special places travelers hold dear are enjoyed with dignity and respect.
News and Upcoming Events
Check out the latest NC Green Travel Tip and download the complete list of tips here!
(June 12, 2013) Some hot tips to stay coolIn addition to bringing visitors to the state, summer can bring some uncomfortably warm weather. There are, however, a number of effective strategies any tourism-related business can implement to help keep customers cool and reduce summer cooling costs. Planning activities around the daily variations in temperature is one such strategy. For example, reducing the use of heat-generating equipment, such as dryers and ovens, during the hottest times of day can help keep your whole building cooler. It can also be helpful to look at where activities are being held. Rooms on the north side of a building that are at or below ground level are likely to be cooler than other parts. Also, effectively using fans and windows to let air in during the evening can help keep things cooler. However, it is important to remember to close windows when outside air temperatures rise above comfortable levels and to turn fans off when rooms are unoccupied. Using window shades and blinds to block sunlight from heating buildings can also significantly reduce indoor temperatures. Choosing energy efficient windows or lighting, such as LEDs or CFLs, which convert more energy into light than heat, can also help keep things cool, particularly where bright lights are needed. If energy alternative options are not available, simply being conscious to turn lights off when not needed can help keep areas cooler. For more information about energy efficiency in the tourism industry, contact NC GreenTravel program manager Tom Rhodes, or Alex Naar with the Center for Sustainable Tourism at ECU at (252) 737-1346.
