At the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), we’re passionate about transforming the way the world travels. Our mission is to serve as a center of tourism knowledge, empowerment, and action for destination communities. We envision a world where travel benefits both people and the planet, fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible future for all.
We understand that irresponsible tourism can exacerbate pressing challenges, such as overtourism, climate change acceleration, inequality and poverty, and the loss of biodiversity and cultural heritage. To tackle these issues, we’ve developed a comprehensive 4-pillar approach:
- Applied Research: We are a dynamic hub for groundbreaking and practical tourism research. We bridge the gap between academia and the private sector, providing practitioners with accessible resources, cutting-edge tourism trends, and tools to more responsibly manage their destinations, community nonprofits, and businesses.
- Destination Stewardship: We champion the cause of responsible tourism by encouraging destinations to prioritize stewardship over mere management and marketing. Our hands-on approach to destination stewardship planning, implementation, and fundraising fosters community participation, sustainable development, and environmental conservation.
- Advocacy & Systems Change: By uniting diverse tourism stakeholders, we strive to transform the industry’s paradigm and promote more responsible practices. We cultivate meaningful dialogue, advocate for progressive regulations, and nurture powerful cross-sector partnerships to drive collective action.
- Education & Events: Lifelong learning is at the heart of our mission. Through speaking forums, events, and our academic affiliates network, we foster knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and resource development for leaders and community members across the tourism value chain.
With this approach, we are dedicated to helping communities, businesses, and destinations adopt responsible tourism policies and practices. Our strategic collaborations, meticulous research, and community-driven field projects aim to make a lasting, positive impact on the tourism industry.
We invite you to join us on this journey towards a more sustainable, equitable, and environmentally conscious future for travel. Explore our website to learn more about our initiatives, and discover how you can become a part of the movement for responsible tourism.
Together, we can create a world where travel truly benefits communities and the environment.