Travel the world with an open mind and kind heart, What is Sustainable Tourism? Jan Louise Jones

What is your own background briefly?

I was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada where I received my B.A. and M.A. degrees in Sociology from Acadia University. My introduction to potential careers in the travel industry came from my first job as a travel consultant for Nova Scotia tourism. My passion for studying travel and tourism began on a study abroad trip to Cuba while completing my bachelors. It was this trip that solidified my passion for learning more about international tourism development.

Within a year of completing my Master’s, I moved to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in Recreation & Leisure Management with a focus on sustainable tourism management from the University of Connecticut. Upon completion of my schooling, I spent the next 12 years teaching and building tourism and hospitality programs at several schools. As a professor, I continued studying the impacts of international tourism including traveling to over 15 countries to explore, conduct research and present at international conferences.

I am now the Program Coordinator of the Hospitality & Tourism Management program (College of Business) at the University of New Haven in West Haven, CT.

Does it seem like a logical background to what you do now?

I am extremely thankful for my interdisciplinary educational and professional background and feel that it better informs my teaching and research. I am able to relate to students with diverse needs and interests and have the ability to critically analyze situations from a variety of perspectives. In addition, I have found that traveling and networking with international colleagues expanded my awareness of the various topics I teach about.

How was the last 12 months?

The past 12 months have been a whirlwind but I absolutely love my job. I have learned so much and I feel incredibly grateful to have a job that I am so passionate about. When I joined the University of New Haven, I was as a part-time professor and in just two years I was overseeing the program. I would be lying if I said it isn’t super busy and a little hectic sometimes but I love that my weeks are never the same!

In any given week, I am checking in on our student run café, meeting with executives and professionals in the industry, attending and volunteering at events, advising students, preparing for classes and overseeing all of our social media efforts…and sometimes responding to media requests ?!

I am excited about where we are headed with the program and love that I can inspire future generations to be passionate about tourism and hospitality industries.

What is Sustainable Tourism?

1 min pitch for what you are doing now?

As Program Coordinator, I continue to network and explore ways to diversify our program so that it provides a balance of critical thought and practical industry skills for students in a quickly changing environment. I also continue to research the socio-cultural impacts of tourism with an emphasis on creative destination marketing and planning strategies to combat overtourism.

In particular, I am interested in emerging niche market trends and experience-based travel trends. In the spirit of my passion for encouraging students to travel and explore the world, I am currently planning our month long HTM summer 2020 study abroad program “A Taste & Tour of Italy” in Prato, Italy.

Why did you get involved with travel and sustainability?

On my first study abroad trip to Cuba, I became distinctly aware of the divide between tourists and host communities. I was quite frankly saddened by some of the interactions I observed. It was this trip that truly opened my eyes to both the positive and negative aspects of tourism. I became very focused when I returned from that trip and even decided to return to Cuba to study the re-introduction of international tourism there in the 90’s for my Master’s thesis.

Why do you think it is such a powerful idea?

I believe that travel has the ability to educate and promote peaceful interactions among people from all different backgrounds. It has been my passion to educate students about the value of appreciating different cultural perspectives and learn about places by seeing them in person and not what they read in a textbook or on the evening news.

Beyond the social impacts, we absolutely need to develop and grow businesses with sustainability in mind. If we don’t, the very precious resources we seek to enjoy will no longer exist.

Is it inevitable that we will see more viruses like the current outbreak in a more interconnected world?

Yes, I do believe we will continue to face new challenges like the current outbreak as the world becomes increasingly interconnected. I also believe that it will be important to learn from the past, establish protocols for the future and continue to critically analyze ways to adapt to unique situations when needed. I still believe that the benefits of travel outweigh the challenges.

Most importantly, travel and tourism industries must be transparent in their efforts to keep travelers safe and secure, and travelers must be more responsible and properly educated about the destinations they are visiting.

How can people find out more about you personally & your work?

University of New Haven Faculty Profile

https://www.newhaven.edu/faculty-staff-profiles/jan-jones.php

I am also pretty active on LinkedIn and happy to connect with colleagues and professionals from around the world.

You can follow my students adventures on FB, Twitter and Instagram @cthospitality

Anything else you’d like to add / we should have asked? I asked my students several years ago to capture what they learned in my sustainable tourism class in one quote. In essence I asked for their “Dr. Jones takeaway” from the course. Here is what they said:

“Travel the world with an open mind and kind heart”. While I believe it is important for students to learn the practical business skills to be successful in their careers, I also consistently remind them that kindness matters and the best way to compliment learning is to get out into the world and experience it for themselves.

More About Jan Louise Jones:

University of New Haven Hospitality & Tourism Program Coordinator and Lecturer Jan Louise Jones, Ph.D., is a travel and tourism expert with decades of experience in sustainable tourism impacts. She has traveled to over 17 countries to conduct research and explore the socio-cultural impacts of tourism. Her focus is on the importance of sustainable tourism management and responsible travel.

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