FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HARVARD COURSE EXPANDS

Harvard Extension Environmental Management of International Tourism Development Course Breaks Ground with Student Research and Mapping Tool

BURLINGTON, VT; July 15, 2011 - Sustainable tourism expert, Megan Epler Wood, will again teach Environmental Management of International Tourism Development as part of Harvard Extension's Sustainability and Environmental Management program. Now in its second year, the course has received top reviews from students and Epler Wood received a commendation for excellence in teaching from the Dean of Harvard Extension for the 2010 course.

In their final projects, 2010 students reported on critical but little-known environmental management issues related to tourism, including air and water quality, waste management, supply chain, policy, and other aspects of the impacts of tourism worldwide.  Destinations in countries as diverse as Korea, Honduras, and Kenya were investigated for their policies and management revealing many highly important challenges for local destinations, businesses, and NGOs. Students' outstanding research prompted Epler Wood to suggest to Harvard Extension leadership that their research be preserved on a digital, online map using GIS mapping tools and be made available to the general public and other researchers as a resource.

As a result, 2011 Tourism students will take part in the Harvard WorldMap program to begin to create a map of environmental management issues for tourism based on research using data frequently unseen in other forums. Epler Wood's students will be the first to map international tourism impacts on a global scale using this brand new mapping tool developed by Harvard's experts at the Center for Geographic Analysis. Special training on using WorldMap will be included in the course curriculum.

Available locally in Cambridge, MA, and simultaneously as an online distance-learning option, the course attracts students from around the world making it very appropriate for professionals seeking to work on environmental management in their own countries. Registration begins on August 1. Space is limited.

This course is the first of its kind and is a means to provide professionals worldwide with the opportunity to join the dialog on improving the environmental management of tourism. Presently valued at 6% of the global economy, the challenge to managing global tourism continues to grow. Dedicated professionals in the field of sustainable tourism seek to develop tourism with lower environmental impacts, social and cultural benefits, and positive economic opportunities for countries around the world.

"Any current or aspiring professional in the tourism/hospitality industry would benefit tremendously by enrolling in [this course]. The readings, lectures and assignments address the interface between the economic aspects of the tourism industry and the effects of the industry on the environment.  Megan offers her expertise and years of experience in shedding light on an increasingly important yet relatively new (from an academic standpoint) field within the sustainability milieu." Alex Yoo, 2010 Student

Guest lecturers this year include Bruce Poon Tip, Founder and Owner of Gap Adventures; Seleni Matus, Director of the Belize Tourism Board; Faith Taylor, VP of Sustainability and Innovation at Wyndham Worldwide; Ariane Janer, Founder of Ecobrasil; and Jamie Sweeting, VP of Environmental Stewardship for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Dr. Jack Spengler, Director of the Sustainability and Environmental Management Program says, "Megan Epler Wood is a truly inspirational leader in the field of sustainable tourism. She brings to the classroom real world experiences from her extensive consulting with governments, NGOs, and important leaders in the tourism industry. She has worked for the United Nations, World Bank, and USAID to demonstrate how sustainability and environmental management can be incorporated into all aspects of international tourism development. We are so pleased to be offering this unique course again this year."

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For more information, interviews and photos please contact:

Alison Hillegeist / ahillegeist@fas.harvard.edu