Sustainable Tourism

| Office of Economic Development | Natural Hazards Research | IICSP

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.

View examples of sustainable tourism practices in North Carolina

Current Activities

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The Center is pleased to welcome three new staff members to the team: Huili Hao, our new Research Director who will be providing direction for the Center's applied and academic research activities; Dr. Cynthia Deale, Western Regional Representative, who will be facilitating outreach efforts in the western region of the state; and Alex Naar, Coordinator, Sustainable Tourism Initiatives, who is working jointly with the Center, the ECU Office of Economic Development, and the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development on statewide sustainable tourism activities.

View new staff profiles

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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.

Featuring Our Faculty: Melvin R. Weber

Assistant Professor, Department of Hospitality Management, and Vice-President, Southeast Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education, Melvin Weber's interests lie in the area of personnel and economic development, realizing both in a community setting because a community can only be as good as the accumulative talent, skills, and abilities of its members. He seeks projects that allow him to use his education and background in personnel training and economic development to help the community members enhance their skills and abilities.