What is the Laboratory?

The Laboratory is an experiential community-based learning opportunity that offers tailor made solutions to communities seeking to shape a tourism development program with internationally practiced tourism planning strategies.

The Laboratory is presented over a 5-day period and is designed to empower stakeholders in lead enlightened community development.

Why a Tourism Laboratory?

There is a growing need in communities around the world to design thoughtful tourism planning and development strategies. The concept of proper tourism planning in a community eludes many of today's destination management organizations. The Laboratory will introduce the concept of planned tourism in a sustainable manner to community planners, local, regional, and state tourism organization leaders and their stakeholders.

Tourism may impact a community negatively or positively. To minimize the negative effects, it must be planned considering many interests. This creates the need for participation of stakeholders to be successful. The Laboratory will prepare current and future leaders in the disciplines necessary to build and shape a successful tourism destination.

Who presents the Sustainable Tourism Development Laboratory?

The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has developed and is the presenter of the Laboratory. With 20 years of sustainable tourism planning and development experience in the Birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution, the Tourism Council is also focusing its attention on sharing its expertise and knowledge with communities around the world.

Led by highly skilled practitioners with extensive experience in the private and public sectors. This program provides transformative learning that prepares and encourages key decision shapers to contribute effectively to their communities.

The Tourism Council has worked on four continents, exchanging ideas and forming relationships that have nourished economic development.

The staff members of the Laboratory come from the United States, Australia, Rwanda, Canada, Colombia, and Argentina.

Will the Lab provide my community a plan for tourism development?

One of the essential outcomes of the Lab experience is the creation of a Tourism Development Plan to guide its sustainable tourism efforts. Participating communities will receive a comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Development Plan, tailored to their needs, which will lead to a successful destination. The Plan will be delivered to the community 60 days after completion of the Laboratory sessions and will be a blueprint for the community's future.

Where is the Laboratory?

Laboratory is based in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, in the New England states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, USA. This location provides an understanding of how tourism is approached from an integrative community-oriented perspective.

While participants are encouraged to attend the Tourism Laboratory in the Blackstone Valley to observe and experience a re-generated tourism destination, a team from the Laboratory will travel to the corresponding community if this is not possible.

When is the Laboratory?

There is no set schedule for the Laboratory. A Laboratory experience can be held at any time during the calendar year, based on the needs of the community participants.

How to participate and schedule a Laboratory?

Contact the Laboratory staff at 401-724-2200 or complete the contact us form. We will contact you within 48 hours.

To best maximize the Laboratory experience, we encourage a group of 3 to 8 people from one community to attend. This balance of tourism planning theory and practical application will provide decision makers with knowledge and expertise to achieve sustainable and demonstrable results in their communities.

Only one community will be participating in the Laboratory at a time. The cost of the Laboratory includes tuition, Lab fees, accommodations, all meals, and transportation within the Laboratory setting. All travel expenses to and from the Laboratory are arranged and paid by the participants and/or their respective Administrations.

The Laboratory is accessible via Amtrak, Logan International Airport Boston, MA, and TF Green Airport Providence, RI.

Instructional materials used, are mined from the World Tourism Organization, Business Enterprises for Sustainable Travel and other recognized best-practice tourism planning and development organizations.