Sustainable Tourism Training: A Collaborative Effort for a Greener Future

Institute fellow, Dr. Pavlina McGrady, in collaboration with Dr. Ladan Ghaharamani from Travel Oregon, spearheaded two impactful training sessions as part of the Sustainable Tourism Professional Training Program. This initiative, designed for Oregon’s tourism industry professionals, aims to lay the foundation for sustainable and regenerative tourism while aligning with Travel Oregon’s transformative strategic vision.

McGrady collaborated closely with Thomas Moser from Travel Southern Oregon and Scott Bricker from Travel Oregon to develop comprehensive training content. The program seeks to empower participants, hailing from diverse sectors such as hotels, restaurants, wineries, and destination management organizations, with the knowledge and tools needed to forge a tangible path toward sustainability in their respective businesses.

The program kicked off with its first workshop in Portland on April 2, 2023, strategically timed the day before the Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism. This allowed participants to seamlessly integrate their newfound insights into the broader tourism discourse. The momentum continued with the second workshop held in Southern Oregon on June 1-2, 2023, providing a regional focus and extending the opportunity for a broader range of professionals to engage.

Notably, McGrady took on the leadership of this initiative amidst her ongoing research on the challenges and opportunities facing the tourism industry in Ashland, OR. Her dedication to understanding various stakeholder perspectives adds a unique layer to the training program, ensuring it addresses the real-world intricacies of sustainable tourism in the region.

The training sessions have provided a platform for participants across many tourism entities to have the opportunity to learn and share, and ultimately identify a tangible pathway towards sustainability for their businesses. This is all in the hopes of a transformative shift towards sustainability in tourism within the region and beyond.