Are you passionate about nature and travel? Learn how Oregon State University’s Sustainable Tourism Management program helps students make a positive impact on the environment while pursuing a rewarding career in the tourism industry.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, sustainable tourism can be described as a form of tourism that thoroughly considers its present and future effects on the economy, society, and environment. It aims to cater to the requirements of not only visitors, but the industry, the environment, and local communities involved as well.

Oregon State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Recreation, and Adventure Leadership (TRAL) degree in the College of Forestry. Within this major, there are 4 concentrations that a student can choose to focus on:
1) outdoor recreation management,
2) adventure leadership education,
3) nature, eco and adventure tourism, and
4) sustainable tourism management. 

The sustainable tourism management option aims to equip students with the skills to effectively plan, develop, and manage nature-based tourism across the globe in collaboration with communities, non-governmental organizations, and governments. Nature-based tourism refers to when visitors travel to a destination to experience and enjoy nature. Students in sustainable tourism management will learn and focus on these things:

• Sustainability– learn about the triple bottom line (social, environmental, economic)
• Natural Resources– learn about the relationship between visitors and ecology
• Business and Management– learn how to apply the best practices
• Monitoring and assessment tools– learn how to create and interpret data
• Physical and Social Sciences– learn how multiple disciplines work together
• Equity– learn about the cultural resources and complex histories of communities
• And more!

Upon completing the program, graduates can follow various career paths, working in either the public or private sector. Below are just a few examples of agencies and positions of what someone with a sustainable tourism management degree could pursue:

• US Forest Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• National Park Service
• Naturalist positions
• Resource planner
• Tourism specialists

For more information, check out the College of Forestry advising guide!