FIU Launches Sustainability Program To Balance Tourism With Environmental Concerns

By Hank Tester, CBS Miami

May 13, 2021

Tourism along with Florida’s environment and natural wonders are the lifeblood of the state’s sun-bathed economic engine. The two go hand in hand in drawing visitors who spend $100 billion a year and support millions of jobs, according to Visit Florida.

“Are we being good stewards of the community by protecting natural resources, and if we are, are we directly protecting our tourism dollars?” asked Joseph Cilli, Director of Distance Learning for Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

The COVID pandemic taught several environmental lessons. For example, with cruise ships not sailing, the harbor channel in Key West became clear got the first time in years. It was a lesson on the impact that the overpopulation of tourism has on the environment.

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