Sustainable Tourism

About WVU Extension's Sustainable Tourism Webinar Series

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, sustainable tourism “takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, and environment and host communities.”

West Virginia is one of the most rural states in the country. According to Dean Runyan Associates, West Virginia’s $4.6 billion in travel-generated spending is a vital part of the state and local economies. In some areas of the state, it is one of the primary sources of earnings and employment. UNWTO designated 2020 as the Year of Tourism and Rural Development stating that the sustainability of tourism in rural areas will only be successful if a comprehensive, inclusive planning strategy is adopted and implemented based on a multi-action and multi-stakeholder participatory approach.

Through partnerships and collaboration, West Virginia University Extension has been working to build and enhance West Virginia tourism opportunities. Our Extension experts developed the Sustainable Rural Tourism webinar series to help West Virginians learn about sustainable rural tourism development using interactive and engaging discussions. Drawing from lessons learned and programs implemented during the past 10 years, these sessions are designed to illustrate basic principles and demonstrate how individuals can apply them collaboratively to further enhance the future of tourism in West Virginia.

UNWTO has recognized that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of tourism in rural development is more relevant than ever. Tourism in rural communities offers important opportunities for recovery from the pandemic as tourists look for less populated destinations and open-air experiences and activities.

This program is designed to help tourism stakeholders in West Virginia harness these opportunities using a sustainable tourism approach focusing on topics such as:

• Breaking down the principles of sustainable tourism and how to apply them
• Building capacity through participatory approaches
• Destination management vs. marketing
• Using data to make informed decisions
• Local and regional planning and action
• Funding tourism action plans
• Evaluating success

Our series covers the basics needed to understand and implement sustainable tourism development. Industry speakers will help to illustrate key concepts and draw on examples from across the state while engaging participants in interactive discussions.

Tourism can change the face of communities in many ways. West Virginia has tremendous potential to harness the positive outcomes of tourism and to avoid negative impacts as the tourism industry continues to grow. Join us in learning more about sustainable tourism while gaining resources you can use to implement these principles in your own community.

Register to Attend the Sustainable Tourism Webinars

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2022 Sustainable Tourism Webinars

181 West Virginians participated in our free 2022 webinar series. Watch the videos again and get inspired to start with rural tourism in your local area.

Access the 2022 videos

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2023 Webinar Series

Sustainable Rural Tourism in West Virginia is a free, yearlong series with a webinar that occurs on the last Monday of the month (unless that conflicts with a holiday) at 11 a.m. EST. The webinars will run from 11 a.m. until noon, however, we will provide the option to stay on from noon to 12:30 p.m. for additional discussion for Q&A. See below for the full schedule. Recordings will be available afterward for those not able to attend. 

January 30, 2023

What is the future of sustainable tourism and destination management in West Virginia? (Interactive webinar with breakout rooms)

Breakout rooms included interactive discussions to help us understand your needs and how we can all move forward:

• Main Webinar Video with one breakout room included
• Additional breakout room recording (Not all breakout rooms were recorded)
• Click this link to request a copy of the presentation slides in PDF format

February 27, 2023

Andrew Grossman – Director of Destination Development for the Colorado Tourism Office

Andrew will join us and talk about rural destination development in Colorado and the Colorado Rural Academy for Tourism with some practical examples of rural destinations developing and implementing a destination management strategy.

• Video
• Click this link to request a copy of the presentation slides in PDF format

March 27, 2023

Scott Bricker – Travel Oregon Destination Development and Oregon Rural Tourism Studio 

Scott will join us and talk about destination development engagements, experience development and stewardship, destination investments, Oregon’s community of practice work, and other aspects related to how development and stewardship lead to other outcomes for tourism and local livability.

WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to provide this content in alternate formats upon request. Contact the WVU Extension Service Office of Communications at 304-293-4222.