BBC Travel’s Ethical Traveler noted that for some, traveling is a calling – not just to see the world, but to build a career. And as the ideas of responsible and sustainable tourism have taken hold, so too have university degree programs designed to give students the skills to influence how tourism is managed, with the goal of benefiting local communities, preserving their cultures and protecting their environment.
One of the spotlighted academic programs that can turn a passion into a full-time job was East Carolina University. Like other programs, ECU focuses on “economic, environmental, and sociocultural viability” – or what the university calls the “triple bottom line of sustainable tourism.” ECU also houses the Center for Sustainable Tourism, which promotes sustainable practices in North Carolina, runs workshops on issues such as renewable energy and climate, and conducts research on race, ethnicity and social inequity in tourism.
Ethical Traveler: Getting a degree in sustainable travel (BBC Travel, Aug. 22)