Hunt, John D.

BIOGRAPHY

John D. Hunt
Emeritus Professor

Dr. Hunt is Emeritus Professor and former head of the University of Idaho’s Department of Resource Recreation and Tourism in the College of Natural Resources. He is a principal partner of HUNT & HUNT, a research, consulting and facilitation firm. Before returning to the University of Idaho as a faculty member in 1991, he served as Distinguished University Professor of Travel and Tourism at the University of Massachusetts from 1987-1991. He was the first person in the nation to have been appointed to such a prestigious academic position in tourism. Prior to going to UMass, he served six years as Professor and Director of the Travel and Tourism Program at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. From 1962 to 1981, Dr. Hunt was on the faculty of Utah State University where he was Professor and Assistant Dean of the College of Natural Resources, and Director of the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. In addition to his B.S. (Forestry) and Master of Forestry from the University of Idaho, he holds a Ph.D. in Recreation Resources and Tourism from Colorado State University.

Dr. Hunt is best known for his pioneering research into the concepts of image of tourist destinations, community tourism planning, and the evaluation of tourism marketing. Throughout his career he has been keenly interested in issues of ecosystem management and tourism. He was involved with eco and nature-based tourism long before they became popular. In the late 1970's, he served as a member of the study team for the National Tourism Policy Act. He is the author of over 300 publications and articles and is frequently invited to speak at international and national professional and industrial functions. For the past 19 years, Dr. Hunt has served as the chief facilitator of the Travel Industry Association of America, annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO).

Dr. Hunt has served as a consultant in numerous states and foreign countries. He has served world, national, state and private organizations such as the United Nations, World Tourism Organization, Australian Tourism Commission, India Ministry of Tourism, Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, British Tourist Authority, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Information Agency, New York Convention and Visitors Bureau, Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Western States Tourism Policy Council, California Tourism Corporation, AT&T, Best Western Hotels International, Camino Real hotels, and several other private and public sector organizations. He has served as a tourism expert in Mexico, Colombia, Egypt, Thailand, Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Hong Kong, Spain,
France, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Iraq, Argentina, India, and. He has participated in the governors' conferences on tourism in nearly two-thirds of all the states. In 1991, he served the Western Governor's Association as a "Scholar-in-Residence." In 1995, he played a national leadership role in the formulation and conduct of the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism.

Dr. Hunt filled a two-year term as Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Travel Data Center. He was president of the Travel and Tourism Research Association. He is presently member of the Board of Trustees and previously served as Chairman of the National Tourism Foundation. Dr. Hunt is a charter member of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. He has served on the boards of the Travel Industry Association of America and the National Tour Association. He is a member of his local county planning commission.

In October 1990, Dr. Hunt was inducted into the Travel Industry Hall of Leaders, the highest recognition that can be given to an individual in the nation's tourism industry. At the time, he was recognized for his efforts to encourage tourism development that contributes to high quality, sustainable human and natural environments. In 1998, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Travel and Tourism Research Association. Other awards include: Honor Alumnus, College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University; Trotter Special Service Award, Travel Industry Association of America; Centennial Commencement Distinguished Alumnus, University of Idaho; First Meritorious Award, Travel and Tourism Program, George Washington University; National Travel Marketing Award, Travel Industry Association of America; Utah Tourism Hall of Fame, and as John is fond of pointing out, Blue and Silver Ribbons for garlic from the Latah County Fair.

In May 2002, Dr. Hunt was inducted into the University of Idaho Alumni Hall of Fame. Recognized for his lifetime contributions to travel and tourism, John was the 147th alumnus out of 80,000 graduates to be placed in the University’s Hall of Fame.