Faculty members and researchers with the Rosen College of Hospitality Management are reaching out to develop and sustain Costa Rica\u2019s tourism industry through agriculture.<\/p>\n
Drs. Po-Ju Chen, Robertico Croes and Kevin Murphy set the wheels in motion when they presented a paper at the University of Costa Rica\u2019s International Symposium on Tourism, held Nov. 21-23, 2011. The work was entitled \u201cAgriculture and Tourism \u2013 A Slow Food Model to Promote Sustainable Local Agriculture Products to Help the Poor in Latin America through Tourism.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a result of the paper, the Rosen College\u2019s Dick Pope Institute for Tourism Studies has entered into a letter of intent with the University of Costa Rica’s (UCR’s) Tourism School to cooperate on a grant to fund a study.\u00a0The research will focus on the promotion of sustainable local agriculture products to help the poor in Latin America through tourism.<\/p>\n
UCR and UCF have a university-wide agreement to exchange research, teaching and cooperation. Currently, Rosen College is assisting UCR with their graduate curriculum development. Drs. Chen, Croes and Murphy have met with the following UCR representatives to discuss the project: Director of UCR Pacific Campus, Dr. Susan Chen Mok; Director of the Tourism College, Jorge Bartels Villanueva; and Director of the Tourism Graduate Program, Oriester Abarca Hernandez.<\/p>\n