International Institute of Tourism Studies – Page 5 – International Institute of Tourism Studies

Alum Feature: Tania Curry, World Wildlife Fund

GW IITSApril 20, 2016

From time to time the IITS likes to showcase the work of our Master of Tourism Administration alumni who are contributing to a more sustainable world through their work. Immediately after earning her degree in 2103, Tania Curry accepted a position as an intern with the World Wildlife Fund’s Travel, Tourism, & Conservation program. A couple of months later, she was hired as a Travel Specialist.

What is the role of the WWF Travel Program?

WWF’s Travel Program aims to give people opportunities to observe the world’s diversity first hand, immersing them in nature and inspiring them to actively care about conservation. We offer trips for both members and non-members alike that educate travelers about conservation work in the field.

Which aspects of that work are you involved with?

I help coordinate and promote our nature trips, and assist as needed with special trips we organize for major donors. The program works closely with Natural Habitat Adventures to promote educational nature travel, and train and equip their guides with the latest in conservation and science research. I also contribute to Good Nature Travel and World Wildlife Magazine.

Can you tell us about any special projects you’re excited about?

We’ve been working on a project we’re calling Conservation Travel that focuses on harnessing the economic potential of the travel industry to create incentives for communities and governments to conserve wildlife and wild places and support green growth.

How did your experience in the Master of Tourism Administration program prepare you for your current work?

Through the program, I gained access to contacts and networks that I otherwise would not have found on my own. Guest lectures, events, and course projects allowed me to further explore career options. I actually found my current job while assisting with the UNWTO.Themis Foundation course, Tourism and International Cooperation for Development. The MTA summer practicum in Peru was one of my most personally rewarding courses and gave me a better understanding of the economic importance of tourism and the value of over-communicating when multiple stakeholders are involved. Finally, the experience I gained during my research assistantship with the Crow Nation helped me understand the value of capacity-building and community empowerment within tourism development.

Do you have tips for graduate students who are considering their own career paths?

Consider exploring careers that fall outside of the traditional tourism umbrella and don’t be afraid to think beyond the typical jobs you hear about most. If you’re interested in working with a smaller company and have a research or internship idea that you think may be worthwhile, don’t be afraid to pitch it to them.

[button href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/travel" style="emboss" size="medium" color="#0096d6" hovercolor="#ffffff" textcolor="#ffffff" texthovercolor="#0096d6"]Learn more about WWF’s Travel Program[/button]

GW Faculty Research New Culinary Tourism Project in Peru

GW IITSApril 20, 2016

Eight years after the 2007 earthquake that killed hundreds of people on the southern coast of Peru, many impacted communities in the area still struggle to recover. GW faculty Dr. Jane Henrici and Dr. Anna Helm are working to launch a project to help poorer coastal Peruvian women develop sustainable culinary tourism enterprises selling food items prepared on clean and efficient cooking stoves. (Traditional wood-burning ovens are highly harmful to both the people who use them and the natural environment.) Through their project, they intend to build up a new business model for long-term local sustainability and expand the use of clean cookstoves in women-owned enterprises.

In January, Dr. Henrici and Dr. Helm conducted research on the ground in Peru as the first stage of their project, with funding provided by the International Institute of Tourism Studies. Check out the slideshow of photos from their trip and stay tuned for future developments!

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Seleni Matus Joins the IITS as Executive Director

GW IITSApril 20, 2016

In January 2016, Seleni Matus became the new Executive Director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies (IITS) at George Washington University. A native of Belize, she has served as the country’s Director of Tourism, and held positions at Conservation International and Sustainable Travel International. Seleni brings more than 15 years of experience designing and overseeing large-scale initiatives in sustainable destination management throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

We had the pleasure of meeting with Seleni to welcome her to GWU and learn about her experiences and vision for the IITS.

Welcome Seleni! How did you first become involved in sustainable tourism?

While I was still living in Belize and working on development and entrepreneurship, I oversaw the design of a national tour guide training and certification program. Tour guides can play a key role in sustainable tourism because they interact directly with tourists and act as interpreters of local culture. As a result of the program, and seeing how well-managed tourism can transform the lives of people in local communities, I became very passionate about sustainable travel and tourism. We need to ensure that there’s more good tourism going on around the world.

Would you say that the development of the tour guide training program was among your proudest achievements?

Absolutely. More recently, however, I led the development of the Sustainable Destination Alliance of the Americas. We brought key players to the table to develop a practical toolkit designed to help tourism-dependent destinations start on their sustainability journey. To have been able to connect all the dots by bringing together top-level decision-makers, regional organizations, NGOs, and major corporations — and to get them to agree on a shared vision — is one of my proudest moments.

What are some upcoming IITS projects you’re most excited about?

We’ve been working to expand the reach of our destination management certificate program to other regions in the world, particularly to the Caribbean, where program partners and universities have expressed enormous interest.

We’re also planning to develop a more robust applied research agenda. Because the tourism industry needs reliable information to make more informed decisions about our future, we’re hoping to position the IITS as a leader in the field, helping to advance industry thinking around sustainability and destination management.

In addition to research, we also want to fill the more pressing needs for capacity building on sustainability and destination management in key regions such as the Caribbean and Latin America. And finally, we want to develop strategic partnerships that would enable us to offer our students very unique experiences working in tourism development issues around the world.

How can students and professionals get involved in these new projects?

Oh, in many ways. We offer non-degree certificate programs that provide professionals with practical ways to enhance their skills in the tourism industry. Our students can participate in our research projects and the programs we’re developing with strategic partners. For example, we hope to collaborate with partners such as the Organization of American States on specific tourism projects. This would allow students to spend a few weeks or even a semester helping to implement projects in the real world.

And finally, what’s your favorite travel destination?

There’s a saying in Spanish: “I’m taking it in my heart.” Places like Cozumel, Suriname, and Jamaica are all very special to me because of the work I’ve done there and the relationships I’ve built.

Alum Feature: Tania Curry, World Wildlife Fund

GW IITSApril 15, 2016Leave a comment

What is the role of the WWF Travel Program?

Which aspects of that work are you involved with?

Can you tell us about any special projects you're excited about?

How did your experience in the Master of Tourism Administration program prepare you for your current work?

Do you have tips for graduate students who are considering their own career paths?

Learn more about WWF's Travel Program here: http://www.worldwildlife.org/travel

Are you a GW Tourism alum who would like to be featured on our blog? If so, get in touch! We’re always looking for great examples of how our alumni are making a difference in the tourism world!