Megan Epler Wood, founder of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), will start the new course, Global Sustainable Ecotourism Development , at the University of Vermont, July 12-16, 2010.

The course description says:

“Global Sustainable Ecotourism Development will look at the big picture of tourism development impacts and approaches to deliver low impact development.  It will teach a holistic approach to planning and tourism development that reviews governments’ and international donors’ roles in rural land development, stressing bioregional planning as a key tool for governments and their donors to move rural areas into a more thorough process for sustainable regional development.”

Course speakers will include:

• Bruce Poon Tip, CEO of Gap Adventures.

• Richard G. Edwards, director of Planeterra Foundation.

• Ann Nygard, associate director of the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations.

• Seleni Matus, director of the Belize Tourism Board and former Ecotourism Manager for Conservation International.

• Erika Harms, executive director of the Tourism Sustainability Council and senior advisor at the United Nations Foundation.

This 5-day intensive seminar will be held on the University of Vermont campus.  The seminar will qualify as a professional certificate program or for three college credits.  Green housing on- and off-campus housing options will be available for participants.

For more info, check out the course online.

Image courtesy of Planeterra