Sustainability has been an important topic in tourism for decades. It is exciting to see the ways groups from around the globe are tackling the wicked problem of ensuring tourism is a force for good. In a chapter I contributed to the Routledge Handbook of Trends and Issues in Tourism Sustainability, Planning and Development, Management, and Technology (catchy title, isn’t it??), I tackled the question – What are the trends in Tourism Sustainability? Here’s what I see as some of the important trends (Chapter spoilers ahead). Climate Change and Tourism:...

17 September, 2023 /

Citizen scientists play an important role in gathering scientific data for research projects around the world, from counting birdlife to monitoring winter storms. But could they help in the work of making destinations more sustainable? Working with Dr. Cristina Cavaliere, Julia Branstrator, and Dr. Kelly Bricker, we set out to examine the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Destination Criteria to see if there were indicators that citizen scientists might be able to observe and report on. Our question was: “could citizen scientists help monitor sustainable tourism?” The Answer: Yes. We found many...

28 January, 2023 /

Looking at the definitions of the terms “sustainable tourism” and “regenerative tourism”, you may be hard-pressed to see a difference.  And the outcomes, if implemented as originally envisioned, would be similar. In some ways, the excitement for regenerative approaches is a reaction to what sustainability has become to a large group of people. For many, sustainability has become a set of things to do not to make things worse. It is perceived to bounded by specific sets of criteria. For many, the term “sustainability” lacks inspiration – to sustain...

12 November, 2022 /

2021 will be remembered as a reset year. After decades of tourism growth, the pandemic delivered a devasting year for our industry and now we are starting to make our way forward again. It's not going to be the same, but can it be better? As we get ready for the new normal – here are a couple of priorities for the coming years. Building back better takes leadership that balances the immediate with the strategic. Focusing on the short-term without attention to the long-term – or vice versa...

28 June, 2021 /

Regenerative tourism is having its moment. Through the pandemic year of 2020, there are have been strong calls for tourism to "build back better" – and regenerative tourism provides insights into what we should do. Regenerative Tourism at the Tipping Point While the term may seem new, it builds on several significant trends that have been around for some time. The regenerative movement is well established in agriculture, architecture, and even town planning. We already see regenerative approaches applied in tourism. Buildings that not only reduce negative impacts but contribute...

29 November, 2020 /

"With freedom comes responsibility" Eleanor Roosevelt. The ability to travel freely is an amazing privilege for a growing number of people. The growth of travel is a testament to both the lowering of barriers to travel and the increasing wealth of many around the world. As we wrap up the second decade of the 21st Century, I believe that the last decade has seen a growing awareness that, with the freedom that enables the growth of tourism, travelers and other tourism system members must take greater responsibility for...

01 January, 2020 /

So what do the destinations of the future look like ? It's a great question. Too often it seems that as destinations become more popular - they become less appealing. We love our destinations to death. That is why it is great that DMO managers are stepping up and engaging in the planning, developing and management of their destinations. No-longer are DMOs just promoting their destinations - they are actively involved in "product development" and "destination experience". DestinationNext, DMAI's strategic planning initiative, highlights DMOs important role in creating the destination communities of the...

20 May, 2015 /

Tourism is the largest industry in the world - and yet it is still called the "invisible industry". Well - maybe it isn't invisible - but it is hidden in plain site. Tourism and the visitor economy is right under our noses - but we don't recognize it. In some ways this lack of awareness starts in school. For example, as a school kid, we went on field trips and camps and we often seemed to find ourselves at farms set up to welcome students and show them agriculture. While I...

14 May, 2015 /
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