CENTER FOR GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING OF SUSTAINABLE AND EXPERIENTIAL TOURISM

Country: United States of America

Website: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/hrm/index.php

The Center for Global Understanding of Sustainable and Experiential Tourism (hereafter, GUEST) will have two main locations. The primary research facility will be housed at Texas Tech University-Costa Rica. The primary goal of the Center in Costa Rica is research designed to define and promote sustainability initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in other regions globally that are similarly situated economically. The Center will focus on three primary areas essential for sustainability research and documentation: 1) Authenticity of Place; 2) Respect for and conservation of the natural environment; 3) Enhancement and promotion of the local community. GUEST’s Costa Rica offices are housed at the Texas Tech University campus in Escazu. The Costa Rica location has a Regional Center Director. The Regional Director is a direct report to the Executive Director and works to manage budgeting, personnel, active research, and community and industry outreach. The Regional Director in Costa Rica has a valuable role in providing a public face for the Center and continuous engagement with the local communities (Cost Rica and beyond). A small group of researchers will be assigned to the Center in Costa Rica, with support from rotating scholars from Texas Tech and other institutions, industry professionals, undergraduate, and graduate students, as needed according to research needs. GUEST maintains the executive branch in Lubbock. A small group of researchers and executive team are assigned to GUEST in Lubbock. Additional support for Center research and consulting will come from invited scholars from Texas Tech and other institutions, industry professionals, undergraduate, and graduate students. Guest’s Executive Director is housed in Lubbock to facilitate cross-discipline collaboration and administrative communication. The primary goals of the Lubbock facility are to manage integration with the University, access to major US hospitality organizations, develop relationships with scholars across disciplines to support Center initiatives, and provide logistical support through the Texas Tech University, Office of International Affairs. One essential pillar of GUEST is the enhancement and promotion of the local community. Tourism is a complex interdisciplinary activity when all elements of its successful implementation is considered. Working with the College of Agriculture will be essential in the exploration of how to grow native crops in regional small-farm formats. It may be necessary from an authenticity of place to engage in rediscovery of “lost” crops to be reintroduced into the economy. New hybrids and/or new methods of crop management could both help to drive increased production, necessary to minimize the importation of agricultural products. The supply chain required to manage the flow of food, beverages, materials, and supplies. GUEST explores elements of the infrastructure including sustainable energy programs to support the broad array of infrastructure necessary to support large format tourism. Sustainable design of the actual tourism structures are a key to developing a sustainable infrastructure. GUEST seeks to gain a better understanding of place and how to integrate into various cultures. Further, how each culture developed has ramifications on the delivery of the authentic experience of the place.