Graduate Course: Sustainable Tourism Development

East Carolina University announces the Summer 2013 study abroad course:

Cuba at a Crossroads: Sustainable Tourism Development in a Time of Political Change

Summer Session II, July 15-27, 2013

Havana, Las Terrazas, the Vinales Valley and Playa Giron

Objectives:

It is an important time for the country of Cuba, its communities, its people, and its economic development. As the political climate shifts, tourism development across all regions continues to grow. Experiencing Cuba in this context will allow students to gain a valuable perspective unique to tourism within this cultural and political environment. The course features interactions with various stakeholders in the Cuban tourism industry, including tour guides and operators, small tourism business owners, University of Havana faculty, Ministry of Tourism employees, and tourists. The course will take place in Havana, Las Terrazas, the Vinales Valley and Playa Giron, which serve as examples of current tourist destinations that have been developed to cater to very different tourist markets.

The program and eligibility:

Participants must be enrolled in a discipline related to tourism or sustainability (e.g. recreation, geography, business, marketing, communication, ecology, environmental studies, anthropology, landscape architecture) at East Carolina University or other academic institutions. The course is open to MS and PhD students with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Participants will be required to complete the ECU study abroad application by January 31, 2013 as well as a brief application to assess goals of participation, international travel experiences and level of maturity.

Program Costs:
The cost of the 13-day program program is $2,100. The single fee covers the following expenses:

T    Transportation to/from airport

<    Accommodations in hotels (10 nights) and casa particulares (2 nights)

      All breakfasts, several lunches and dinners

<    Entrance fees to all attractions

-     Local expert speakers

<    Most gratuities

<     Health insurance for the duration of the trip

       The cost of the study abroad course includes three graduate-level credits.

Students will be responsible for the following expenses not included in the program fee:

<     Round trip airfare from Miami to Havana (roughly $500)

       Airfare to/from Miami

       Additional application fee for non-ECU students

       Cuban visa ($60)

       7 lunches and 9 dinners

       Souvenirs and incidentals

There is a $75 application fee and required $200 deposit. The total program fee is due by March 29, 2013.

Applications

Applications may be accessed through the ECU Office of International Affairs website at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/summerabroad/Summer-Study-Abroad-Forms.cfm, due with the application fee by January 31, 2013. The total program fee is due by March 29, 2013.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Carol Kline, klinec@ecu.edu

Daniel Kariko, karikod@ecu.edu

Laura Johnson, john3418@msu.edu

ECU Office of International Affairs: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/intlaffairs/

List of Summer 2013 study abroad programs: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/summerabroad/programs.cfm

Summer 2013 application and other resources: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/summerabroad/Summer-Study-Abroad-Forms.cfm