Six organizations have come together to form the Future of Tourism Coalition with the global mission to place destinations at the centre of recovery strategies. 

The organizations are the Centre for Responsible Travel, Destination Stewardship Centre, 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