The Tourism Resource Team Program: Enhancing sustainable tourism through community

Success Stories

To enhance understanding and application of sustainable tourism, a unique program based on best practices across the U.S. developed. A case study of program application and evaluation is presented for discussion and replication.

The Tourism Resource Team (TRT) program provides technical assistance to community tourism organizations that have encountered an obstacle to realize their sustainable tourism goals. Program emphasis is on sustainability and is based on two bedrock principles : 1) active citizenship, where local citizens create or participate in project design and implementation, and 2) sustainable development.

The TRT program requests proposals for assistance with explicitly sustainable tourism issues. In response the program provides on-site consultation with experts and consultants, a joint TRT and community report with analysis, observations, and recommendations to meet identified community needs in a sustainable manner. In addition, it provides sustained interaction between the TRT and the community as the implementation plan is considered. Immediate, short and long-term evaluations provide various feedback mechanisms and insight for the program and community.

The initial program implementation met with success and measurable outcomes. Along with an immediate increased understanding of sustainable tourism, community leaders and citizens expressed a recognition of the consequences of mass tourism development and development that occurs without public involvement. Longer term community program benefits identified include opportunities for organization, a sense of collaboration, and increased understanding of sustainable tourism. Lessons learned include insight on team formations, community culture, and resource allocation.