“Sustainability is essential to the future of tourism,” said Mark Milstein, clinical professor of management and faculty director of the Cornell Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise, where STAMP is located. “This program gives industry professionals the tools to ensure the competitiveness of tourist destinations in a manner that is strategic, holistic, and mindful of the relationship between visitors and residents.”
Delivered by eCornell, the course equips professionals working in a wide array of destinations with data-driven methods for measuring the impacts of tourism, managing natural resources, creating climate action plans and tracking economic development goals.
The course provides students with the tools and guidance to manage unaddressed costs of tourism operations at the local level and seeks to ensure that well-trained local teams can apply equitable and inclusive approaches to destination management. Students can use the program’s case studies, resources, and exercises immediately in their professional settings.
“Sustainable tourism is dependent on preserving our natural and cultural capital to ensure the economic viability of travel destinations. It is essential that hospitality and tourism leaders balance the promotion of tourism with the protection of destinations,” said Megan Epler Wood, STAMP managing director and the course’s lead instructor.
“This new destination management course empowers professionals to build cooperation at the regional level to protect vital environmental, social and cultural heritage while facilitating inclusive community processes.”
At least 1,000 students who live in developing countries and have financial barriers to enrollment will receive no-cost access to the program through the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations and the Travel Foundation.
The course was created with financial support from the German Agency for International Cooperation and the Travel Foundation.
Tags: Sustainable Tourism Destination Management, Tourism, STAMP, Cornell Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise
