Megan Epler Wood, EplerWood International

The travel industry is a potent force in economic development, an economic driver behind managing the development of the urban creative economies, and a pivotal source of exchange (foreign or local) for developing countries, particularly those seeking alternatives to extractive industries that have devastated biodiverse landscapes. Ms. Epler Wood discusses how to harvest sustainably-managed tourism as a fundamental resource to build creative economies, preserve invaluable environmental and cultural assets, and diversify options for rural and urban peoples moving into a sustainable 21st century. This lecture will spell out how the discipline of ecotourism and sustainable tourism can be implemented for the most reliable results in the next century.