Tibet Center

February 22 – 27, 2009

As part of the Geotourism Initiative, the University of Virginia’s Tibet Sustainable Governance Program, in partnership with Machik, co-hosted a workshop on tourism policy in Tibet with policymakers from the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The workshop was held from February 22 to 27, 2009. The goal of the workshop was to explore alternative models of tourism that prioritize Tibetan communities, local economies and sustainable livelihoods. Supporting organizations and participants included the Center for Sustainable Destinations of the National Geographic Society and George Washington University Business School’s Tourism and Hospitality Management.Geo

The University of Virginia and Machik are co-organizing a two week workshop on Geotourism in Tibet for a visiting delegation of Tibetan and Chinese tourism officials and educators. This is part of their long term initiative for promoting alternative forms of tourism centered first and foremost on local communities on the Tibetan plateau, and how to facility their involvement and benefit. The deputy director of the Tibet Autonomous Region Tourism Administration, directors of Chamdo and Kongpo prefectural Tourism Administrations, and the Dean of the Tibet University tourism school will be participating. The workshop will include stops in New York, Washington DC, Arizona, and San Francisco, while the main discussions will be held at UVa. The workshop is led by UVa faculty Tashi Rabgey and David Germano, along with Machik Executive Director Losang Rabgey, with management by Machik’s Brad Aaron.