International Institute for Tourism Research & Development
The Institute is a unit in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. It is managed by the director, Dr. Bob Brookover. Other members of the Institute team include Ken Backman, Sheila Backman, Laura Jodice, Bill Norman, Chi-ok Oh, and Bob Powell. Several graduate assistants work as consultants in the Institute providing research and support services.
The Clemson International Institute subscribes to the proposition that tourism may be used as a vehicle for promoting and achieving several important strategic objectives. These include the use of tourism and tourism practices:
- To contribute to the quality of life and economic development of the State of South Carolina
- To help achieve inter-cultural understanding and appreciation
- To help promote the alleviation of poverty
- As a tool to help reduce conflict and achieve peace in the world
- To help individuals expand their horizons, enhance life satisfaction and develop deeper insights and understandings
- As a tool to help preserve and protect South Carolina’s natural environment, our heritage and the world's natural resources.
On November 7, 1985, the Recreation, Travel and Tourism Institute was approved by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education as a research center within the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Clemson University.
The Recreation, Travel and Tourism Institute was created to provide a focal point for coordinating research, extension, and teaching programs related to recreation and tourism at Clemson University and within the state of South Carolina. The Institute grew out of the increased recognition of the economic, social and environmental impact of the tourism industry to South Carolina and the importance of recreation to the quality of life to South Carolina residents.
The growth of tourism in South Carolina has resulted in the need for Clemson University to address some of tourism's complex issues such as market analysis and promotion, land-use planning, geographic distribution, public-private cooperation, coastal resource development and the integration of tourism with other community development strategies.
To address this wide variety of issues, and because of the multi-disciplinary nature of tourism, we have collaborative relationships with a number of area experts at Clemson from Economics, Sociology, Forestry, Architecture, Business and Marketing. The Institute is also well positioned both nationally and internationally by having collaborative relationships with experts and institutions in the United States and abroad.
» Clemson International Institute for Tourism Research & Development
Bob Brookover, Ph.D., Director
296 Lehotsky Hall
Clemson University
Clemson, SC, 29634
(864) 656-2180
bob@clemson.edu