About Us

We are a leading international sustainable tourism organisation dedicated to ensuring that tourism provides the greatest possible benefit to every destination around the world so that their communities and environments can thrive.

For communities: better places to live and equitable access to benefits

For the environment: operating within nature’s boundaries, reducing carbon emissions and protecting and restoring local ecosystems

Why?

Climate change and inequity are the biggest challenges facing the future of the global tourism industry.  With its narrow fixation on economic impact, especially growth in arrivals, overnight stays, and visitor spending,  the benefits of tourism are often concentrated among the few at the top of the value chain.  All too often, it is local residents who lose out through loss of housing and access to land and resources, overcrowding, pollution and the destruction of natural environments, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change which tourism continues to play no small part in fuelling.

What we do:

We accelerate change towards a more balanced tourism model, using our expertise, extensive networks and independence to support tourism organisations to make the necessary adaptations and demonstrate what is possible, how tourism can be done differently, in balance with community needs and the environment.

We’ve been working to improve the impacts of tourism since 2003.  During that time, we have worked in 36 countries around the world.

We provide:

  • ground breaking research,
  • training, coaching and mentoring opportunities
  • practical support for destination managers and tourism businesses
  • strategy and planning advice
  • lighthouse projects that demonstrate solutions
  • connections and collaboration between tourism organisations.

 

Read more about our work in our latest publication – From Strength to Strength: The Travel Foundation’s journey to transform tourism.

Watch our video – hear from our CEO, Jeremy Sampson and our Head of Global Programmes, Elke Dens.

 

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