Dr. Pat Long told the Tarboro Rotary Club Thursday he has "the best job in the world," promoting sustainable business practices for tourism in the state.
Long told the club at The Fountains at The Albemarle that such sustainability is so important, if a community does not brand itself as being sustainable, "you're going to be losing your marketplace" to other areas.
The director of the country's only Center for Sustainable Tourism at East Carolina University, Long said North Carolina so far "has a nice reputation" across the country as a tourism destination. Whether it's the ski slopes of Western North Carolina or the coast, "we don't want to lose those special reasons why people will come here" by not working to preserve the state's natural environments, he added.
Long's work, and also that of future graduates from ECU's sustainable tourism program, includes educating businesses at tourism destinations about ways they can save money and cut their waste.
Several Rotarians raised their hands when asked if they had switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs in their home, and that they recycled materials.
When asked, the Rev. Dr. Christopher Edmonston told Long that when he performed a wedding service in California this summer, the hotel he stayed at had a recycling program for its linen.
"Our behaviors are changing a bit" in regards to trying to conserve energy, save money and limit waste, Long said, especially after the $4-per-gallon gas over last summer.
He also highlighted conservation efforts within the state at tourism destinations. At the Highland Lake Inn in Flat Rock, customers are "demanding a different kind of food" grown locally and without the aid of pesticides, he said.
The Proximity Hotel in Greensboro has 4,000 square feet of power-generating solar panels, and even an elevator that generates electricity back into the grid for usage.
With those efforts and others taking place, to help prevent continued, accelerated climate change, Long also told the group that managing the influx of tourists to environments is just as important.
In some cases, "we are loving great places to death," he said.
Rotarians who had been to Venice, the Galapagos Islands and Romania said Thursday they enjoyed those trips because of the natural beauty and uniqueness of the environments.
The Galapagos in particular are only supposed to have a limited number of visitors every year, around 25,000. But Long said some years, that number reaches 100,000.
Another area of concern for sustainable tourism comes with affordable housing, such as at popular ski resorts like Vail, Colo., and along the coast here in North Carolina.
Besides ski resorts all over dealing with changing weather patterns, Long said that Vail lacked around 6,000 workers for its resorts, because of the pricey housing within that area. The employment situation for coastal and resort areas is also not helped, because many property owners do not stay in there year-round, he added.
East Carolina is offering a master's of science degree in sustainable tourism, pending authorization from the state. One of the program's graduate assistants, Shannon Arnold, told the Rotary Club it is "so unique, so well-rounded and so organized," and that she will specialize in getting local businesses connected with their representatives on sustainable policy matters.
The program so far has had 60 inquiries, from Michigan, Florida, students attending Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, and also students from abroad, Long said.
While he noted that North Carolina is unique in the U.S., as the only state currently with a sustainable tourism director associated with state tourism authorities, Long warned that "we should not let Tennessee or South Carolina take away market share" by getting so far ahead in implementing statewide conservation policies.
Before relocating to Eastern North Carolina and ECU, he spent 30 years as a faculty member at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was previously past president, CEO and chairman of the board of directors for the National Rural Tourism Foundation, established by Congress in 1992 to promote rural tourism efforts.
Local News
Sustainability vital for tourism
- Local News
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Tractor pull again a success
PINETOPS – The 36th annual Pinetops 300 Tractor and Truck Pull was just as big as the previous events on Friday and Saturday night. There was standing room only both nights. Everyone got their monies worth on Saturday night during the last event.
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Gas prices break $3.50 barrier locally
Gasoline prices have dropped below $3.50 per gallon for the first time since 2011.
After hitting $3.479 on Friday, prices fell another two cents per gallon Saturday at Wilco/Hess at Main and Granville in downtown and at Murphy Gas on US 258 South. By Sunday, that price had spread to at least four other outlets in town. -
Edgecombe Garden Club presents annual awards and installs 2012-2014 officers
At its May meeting, the Edgecombe Garden Club was presented with several awards won at the state convention in Asheville. District 12 Director Brenda Crocker made the presentations.
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May is Mental Health Month: Do More For 1 in 4
Vidant Behavioral Health Center, a department of Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, is calling on the community to acknowledge May as Mental Health Month. The commemorative month was created more than 50 years ago by Mental Health America (MHA), a national mental health advocacy organization.
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Parks and Rec offers wide variety of summer activities
Summer is a time for excitement and a time to enjoy the warm weather through various activities.
And for the opportunity to explore your artistic, athletic or even adventurous side, the Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department welcomes children, adults and seniors to participate in a variety of summer activities, including athletic camps, water aerobics, dance classes, arts and crafts and a number of team-oriented programs. -
Here is a list of recreational facilities in and around Tarboro:
Community Swimming Pool
Poplar Street
A swimming pool complex open to all Tarboro residents is located in the geographic center of town on Poplar Street, complete with a diving well, children's pool, competitive swimming pool, bathhouse, and patio/concession area.
Tennis Courts -
Unsolved murders eat at law enforcement, too
It's been 25 years since Roy John Rieck was found, brutally murdered, at Tarboro's Pizza Hut. Rieck, 47, was apparently closing the establishment for the night when he was stabbed at least 20 times. He was found lying in a puddle of blood at 12:15 a.m. on Aug. 31, 1987.
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AIB group Submits application
With its 28-page community profile officially submitted, Tarboro’s America In Bloom (AIB) committee is now focused on igniting a spring cleaning buzz throughout town for the coming of the organization’s judges in June.
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Anew creation working to improve lives of youth
Kendrick Pittman, 33, realizes everyone endures obstacles in life and is ultimately responsible for the choices he or she makes. His choice was to work to positively impact the lives of the youth in the community.
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Muhammad satisfied with term on council
Melvin Muhammad said he did what he intended to do during one term on the Tarboro Town Council by stirring up a little controversy. Now, after not seeking reelection, he's ready to ride off in the sunset.
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