This presentation was presented at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2011 (ESTC 2011), held in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA, from September 19th-21st. Organized by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the
ESTC is a unique annual conference providing practical solutions to advance sustainability goals for the tourism industry.
Learn more about the ESTC: http://www.ecotourismconference.org ESTC on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ESTC_Tourism
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The International Ecotourism Society | web www.ecotourism.org email [email protected] | tel +1 202 506 5033
The Current Landscape of Sustainable Tourism Certification
Programs in America
Jeremy SchultzPhD Candidate, University of Utah
Dr. Kelly BrickerAssociate Professor, University of Utah
Chair of the Board, TIES
AcknowledgementsUNLV William F. Harrah College of Hotel
Administration
Caesar's (formerly Harrah’s) HospitalityResearch Center
Purpose• To provide a baseline
understanding of the responses offered by participants and directors of sustainable tourism certification programs in the United States
• To offer an example of theory and practice working together
BACKGROUND
WHICH STATES PARTICIPATED?
WHO’S GETTING CERTIFIED?
Conversations with Program Directors
• Interviews with 15 program directors
Why start a certification program?
04/12/2023 SPRE 2005 NK Bricker
State Tourism Certification Program Structures
State Tourism Certification Program Structures
Obstacles?
Recommendations•Involve stakeholders•Measure everything•On-site verifications•Maintain affordability•Share information
Recommendations cont.•Constant customer input•Provide education and training•Lobby•Encourage spin-off effects
TRENDS & INITIATIVES
Happy (and
Sustainable)
Travels!
Thank you!