CREST sparks social change and deepens the impact of our project work through advocacy. We leverage advocacy as a tool to achieve sustainable tourism solutions by identifying the key issues within our industry and gathering critical research to carefully and consciously outline the best path forward.

A key element of CREST’s advocacy strategy is the generation of actionable information, followed by its thoughtful dissemination to audiences with whom it will have the most impact. 

Future of Tourism Coalition (FoTC)

In an effort to steward collaboration over competition, CREST joined forces with the Destination Stewardship Center, Green Destinations, Sustainable Travel International, The Travel Foundation, and Tourism Cares to form the Future of Tourism Coalition (FoTC), with a diverse set of expert advisors. Together our mission is to create an inclusive, multisector global movement that puts destination needs at the center of tourism for a sustainable future.

Recognizing the power of our unified voices and the considerable knowledge and tools we have together, we first developed a set of 13 Guiding Principles for a new future for tourism, our attempt to establish an inspiring framework for tourism’s recovery and beyond.

Media & Outreach

CREST works to advance responsible tourism that empowers local communities and protects natural environments through strategic media and outreach.

We make it a priority to share our responsible travel expertise and educate diverse audiences about sustainability through speaking engagements, media outreach, policy advocacy, and CREST-organized conferences.

We have been featured in prominent news outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Skift, Forbes, Globe and Mail, AFAR Media, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, Travel Weekly, and more.

Sustainability & Cross-Cultural Dialogue in Cuba

CREST has been a leading voice on sustainable travel to Cuba since the United States reformed its Cuba travel regulations in 2016. Our work in Cuba focuses on strengthening small-scale, household-based tourism on the island, mitigating the impacts of climate change on the burgeoning tourism sector, and advocating for legal U.S. travel to the island.

We believe that educational and people-to-people exchanges to Cuba are important for fostering cross-cultural understanding and can be transformational both for everyday Cubans and for American travelers.