Master of Arts, Miami University, 2010, Geography

This thesis is informed by the literature on sustainable tourism development and homestay projects in various countries worldwide. The research problem in Dominica is that remote portions of the island that are far from the island's cruise ship ports are not receiving significant tourism income. This thesis examines the establishment, operation and successes to date of a community-based homestay project of which I was a key organizer in the remote village of Grand Fond. This homestay project acts to counter the inaccessibility to cruise tourism money while offering tourists a culturally authentic experience. The research is informed by an analysis of participant feedback from both hosts and visitors. Results show that the Grand Fond homestay project, while still in its infancy and fragile, is resilient, culturally positive, and brings tourism money into the village. It has also inspired homestay projects elsewhere on the island, and therefore helps to contribute much-needed funds to remote portions of Dominica.

Committee: Thomas Klak PhD (Committee Chair); Charles Stevens PhD (Committee Member); Robbyn Abbitt (Committee Member) Subjects: Geography

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2021, Leadership and Change

In its most benign form, tourism is able to protect the cultural and ecological integrity of a region and to promote economic development in line with sustainability principles. Additionally, sustainable forms of tourism have the potential to improve the quality of life within the host community by promoting intergenerational equity. However, sustainable models of tourism are extremely challenging to design, implement, and manage at the community level because of competing stakeholder interests. There are significant power dynamics associated with sustainable tourism planning and management that often fail to incorporate all citizens' voices, particularly those belonging to underprivileged backgrounds. Due to the growth of international tourism (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) and its related impacts, multinational organizations such as the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) continue to collaborate with member states and affiliates to identify methods to improve existing sustainable tourism strategies, discover new ones, and to address the social impacts of tourism globally. This study examines the social impacts of tourism in UNESCO's Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Reserve and the stakeholders' dynamics that influence tourism planning in the region. Through an exploratory case study, this research uses media analyses, document review, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews to gain a deeper understanding of the social impacts of tourism and the stakeholders' dynamics related to tourism management. Stakeholder theory, responsible leadership, and ecosystem services are used as a theoretical framework to ground the inquiry and to provide insight into how the social impacts of tourism are related to tourism planning dynamics. The findings revealed significant new knowledge about social impacts of tourism in the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness and a mapping of complex c (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Lize (A.E.) Booysen DBL (Committee Chair); Donna Ladkin PhD (Committee Member); Marina Novelli PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; International Relations; Recreation; Regional Studies; Social Research; Sustainability

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, Consumer Sciences

Sustainable tourism has been considered a great solution for women empowerment in developing countries with several positive changes to the women's lives participating in these projects (Cicek et al.,2017). However, women are still facing issues of inequality in terms of socioeconomic opportunities, gender gap, and advancement openings (UNWTO, 2019). This study examined women empowerment through sustainable tourism industry and how it affects the lives of female participants as the lack of models that focus on women empowerment in tourism reduces the understanding of these issues. The study follows a mixed method approach; qualitative (interview techniques) and quantitative (survey). the findings were validated in the US context as it was found that women empowerment has a significant direct positive impact on economic changes, attuited changes, satisfaction with life, and a significant indirect effect on satisfaction with life through economic changes.

Committee: Milos Bujisic (Advisor); Jay Kandampully (Committee Member); Stephanie Liu (Committee Member); Caezilia Loibl (Committee Member); Vanja Bogicevic (Committee Member) Subjects: Cultural Resources Management; Gender Studies; Sustainability

MDES, University of Cincinnati, 2019, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Design

Sustainable tourism has become the shift in tourism development because it is benefiting residents, tourists and the environment. Persuasion for sustainability is not relatively new, notions like “green design'' and “green technology'' consider changing people's habits through persuasive system design. Starting from these facts, this thesis project aims to promote sustainable tourism through persuasive design. The method of persuasive design evaluation showed that effective persuasive designs are existing in tourism programs today to influence tourists' behaviors. Some evaluation got bad results because people don't understand what trigger behavior change effectively and efficiently. This thesis project aims to understand tourists' behaviors and attitudes and find out the barriers for tourists to be green on tours. From the methods of the sustainable behavior survey and the sustainable attitude survey, the significant negative sustainable tourism behaviors and attitudes were uncovered. They were organized into 6 significant persuasion contents. From the interviews, the tourists' barriers to perform the target sustainable behaviors were identified. In the end, the persuasive design principles were proposed specifically for sustainable tourism. At the same time, from the experiment of promoting sustainable tourism behaviors, a new persuasive design methodology and a persuasive design process were proposed.

Committee: Steven Doehler M.A. (Committee Chair); Craig Vogel M.I.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2018, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Architecture

This thesis discusses design strategies for an architectural intervention to encourage responsible tourism in a rural area of Romania called Poiana which lies in the Apuseni Natural Park. This area is protected by various entities such as the Romanian government, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and European Union's Natura 2000 which encourage minimal impact from the architecture. Poiana's remote location situated three miles away from the closest commune of Pietroasa makes infrastructural connections difficult. This remoteness coupled with existing protection laws make micro cabins a suitable way of attracting responsible tourists. This region of Romania hosts visitors throughout the year, so for the micro cabins to be financially successful, they should be operational during as many seasons as possible. Romania has a temperate climate and thus an abundance of temperature changes. It is therefore important for passive design strategies to be considered to design the cabins to create comfortable living environments. This thesis identifies strategies that would be most appropriate for Poiana, both environmentally and strategically.

Committee: Michael McInturf M.Arch. (Committee Chair); Aarati Kanekar Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Architecture

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2014, Geography

The Israel National Trail and Jesus Trail are fascinating examples for geographers to look at in terms of sustainable tourism development. Interviews and participant observation conducted show that hikers and personnel along the trails are becoming more aware of issues within sustainability such as large amounts of trash and lack of water. Surveys conducted show the hikers along these trails are not doing much to be sustainable. These results can be seen from a lack of education and understanding of ecotourism along Israel's trails. Ecotourism is a fast growing sector of tourism and can offer ways to help preserve Israel's Trails environment, culture, as well as help out areas economically. By using the approach of surveys, interviews, and participant observation, this thesis examines how stakeholders perceive and address aspects of ecotourism along the Israel National Trail and Jesus Trail in Israel, focusing on the Lower Galilee and Negev Region.

Committee: Stanley Toops Dr. (Advisor); David Prytherch Dr. (Committee Member); Carl Dahlman Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Geography

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2008, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Architecture (Master of)

‘ In an age of globalization and the concurrent mixing of people and cultures, identities and their attendant meanings have become contested at many levels - social, institutional and political '(Curtin 167). These ‘ contested meanings ' give rise to ‘ contested geographies ' through agents such as tourism which is ‘ one of the foremost vehicles of cultural exchange '(CIRA 2007)(ICOMOS 2007). ‘ Understanding how people use space and invest space with meaning becomes a focus of debate because you deal with different groups of people who negotiate their identities and interests through space and place '(CIRA 2007). My thesis will focus on ‘ sites of struggle between insider and outsider groups ', look at developing sustainable solutions that involve all stakeholders (locals and tourists), cater to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development and establish a suitable balance among these three dimensions to guarantee the long-term sustainability of a place (Chang 343) (ICOMOS 2007).

Committee: Elizabeth Riorden (Committee Chair); Gordon Simmons (Committee Chair) Subjects: Architecture

MCP, University of Cincinnati, 2006, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Community Planning

The islands of Santorini, Greece, experience a shortage in sustainable water supply due to an arid climate and tourist economy. Current conditions include saltwater intrusion in groundwater, reliance on imported water for drinking, a lack of widespread seawater desalination, inequitable pricing, and decreasing use of rainwater harvesting. Santorini has a sustainable water supply estimated at just over 1 million m3/year and an estimated demand of 2.4 million m3/year, leaving a deficit of 1.4 million m3/year produce in a sustainable manner. A large implementation of reverse osmosis seawater desalination can provide for Santorini a more sustainable supply. Two scenarios for implementation are presented, both with an additional capacity of 1.8 million m3/year, installation of storage tanks for backup supply, and a suitable pricing system. The second of these would also use wind energy and an advanced desalination technology that also produces salt to lower environmental impact.

Committee: Carla Chifos (Advisor) Subjects:

MCP, University of Cincinnati, 2004, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Community Planning

The United Nations Conference on environment and Sustainable Development in Rio in 1992 reaffirmed that environmentally sound practices for the management of waste is one of the major issues that needs to be addressed for maintaining the quality of Earth's environment and for achieving sustainable development. One of the most vulnerable and insular eco-systems that needs attention in this respect is the small tourist island. Very small settlements have historically required little or no waste management. In areas of low population densities, the volume of waste generated is low and of a different composition than in large cities. This type of waste is relatively easier to dispose of. Small islands are one such case in hand. However,when these islands become hubs of tourist activities the entire scenario changes. The human activities start producing more waste as the economy generators try to constantly meet the demands of the tourists so as to attract them in larger numbers. This change often comes about so gradually that it is hardly noticed until the problem is already serious. The rapid increase in the density of human population in previously virgin lands for the purpose of leisure and tourism is making the collection, treatment and disposal of waste an insurmountable problem. This is turn is having serious sociological, ecological and economic implications in these select areas as there are usually no norms and guidelines in place to cushion the effect of this unprecedented pressure on the often minimal infrastructure. The limited size of the territory, combined with population trends and seasonal fluctuations, are factors which imply a frequently difficult cohabitation between man and nature and can generate conflicts of interest and management difficulties. Faced with the increased production of waste, islands suffer a dual constraint,both economic and ecological which needs to be dealt with. This study attempts to address the problem of solid waste managemen (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Carla Chifos (Advisor) Subjects: Urban and Regional Planning

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2003, Geography (Arts and Sciences)

Whether tourism promotes local economic development remains debatable. The distribution of tourism benefits is affected by local, national, and international actors involved in the tourist industry. This research examines how the Castillos coastal zone, a protected area in southeastern Uruguay, has developed as a major tourist destination focusing on the role played by local forces in the area's development process. The study is based on interviews with government officials at national, municipal, and local levels, the biosphere reserve management body, business associations, and local residents. The spontaneous development of tourism and lack of government planning led to a prominent role of local business associations and community groups, which became the main tourism promoters in the area spurring economic development and protecting local culture. The role of local forces in tourism development needs to be re-evaluated and governments and international actors need to be integrated into local actors' projects rather than local actors' being integrated in governments' and international actors' projects, as it has been argued in most of the studies on sustainable development and tourism.

Committee: Yeong-Hyun Kim (Advisor) Subjects: Geography