Research summary
Every year, nearly a billion tourists leave their homes to explore other destinations. The combination of increasing tourism and environmental change is expected to exacerbate demands on natural resources. Unfortunately, the most vulnerable regions are also where tourism growth is expected to be strongest.
As Canada Research Chair in Tourism, Environment, and Sustainability, Dr. Michelle Rutty aims to develop policies that support the tourism industry and those that depend on it while also sustaining natural resources and protecting the well-being of destinations. Rutty and her research team are examining how tourists make decisions and respond to environmental change. They are also studying climatic risks and emerging tourism opportunities to find approaches that balance our desire to travel with environmental protection.