Six organizations have come together to form the Future of
Tourism Coalition with the global mission to place destinations at the center
of recovery strategies.
The organizations are the Center for Responsible Travel,
Destination Stewardship Center, Green Destinations, Sustainable Travel
International, Tourism Cares, and the Travel Foundation, with the guidance of
the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
“Decades of unfettered growth in travel have put the world’s
treasured places at risk -- environmentally, culturally, socially and
financially,” said the Future of Tourism Coalition in a statement. “The travel and tourism industries face a
precarious and uncertain future due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, with
international tourist numbers projected to fall 60% to 80% in 2020. As tourism
moves forward and recovers, re-centering around a strong set of principles is
vital for long-term sustainable and equitable growth.”
The coalition is calling on tourism agencies, travel
companies, governments, investors, non-governmental organizations and
destinations to commit to them.
Twenty-two have committed thus far, including the Adventure
Travel Trade Association, G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Jordan Tourism Board,
Lindblad Expeditions, the Slovenian Tourist Board, MT Sobek, The Travel
Corporation, and the World Wildlife Fund.
The coalition has put forth 13 guiding principles that “provide
a clear moral and business imperative for building a healthier tourism industry
while protecting the places and people on which it depends.” Those principles are:
1. See the whole picture
2. Use sustainability standards
3. Collaborate in destination management
4. Choose quality over quantity
5. Demand fair income distribution
6. Reduce tourism’s burden
7. Redefine economic success
8. Mitigate climate impacts
9. Close the loop on resources
10. Contain tourism’s land use
11. Diversify source markets
12. Protect sense of place
13. Operate business responsibly