The Travel Foundation

Climate change is creating new and complex risks that destinations urgently need to understand. That’s what we’re exploring with our new Destination RiskScan research project – and this week our very own Katie James was in the Skirama Dolomiti region with a group of local tourist boards and ski lift operators to dig into those big questions. Skirama Dolomiti is one of six pioneering destinations helping us trial a new approach to identifying and tackling climate-related risks in tourism. It’s not just about extreme weather (though that’s certainly part of it). We’re also looking at insurance, reputation, changing policies, and how all these risks interact. It’s a joined-up, science-backed, and destination-specific approach, designed to give tourism leaders the insights and tools they need to plan ahead and build resilience. We’re working in partnership with researchers from Centre of Expertise Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality and risk experts at Risklayer GmbH, and the findings will help inform an online tool. Want to get involved? We’re still welcoming sponsors, giving you a chance to help shape the research, gain early access to insights, and be part of a global network working to future-proof tourism. For more go to: https://lnkd.in/egBP7_63 Let’s make sure tourism is ready for what’s ahead. Thanks Fabio Sacco, Matteo Bonapace and Luca D'Angelo for this opportunity.

Your destination is your greatest asset – but is it climate ready? If you're working in a DMO or similar organisation, and climate action feels overwhelming, you're not alone, but help is at hand. Our Destination Climate Champions online training course, developed in partnership with Expedia Group, is helping destination managers take meaningful action on climate. If you work for a DMO, NTO or similar organisation, this free, self-paced training is made for you. -  8 online modules to build your knowledge and confidence -  Peer learning sessions to connect with others and grow your support network - Now also available in Spanish -  Optional coaching (paid add-on) from Travel Foundation experts for tailored advice And it’s making a real difference. Six months after completing the course: -  87% of participants had started developing a Climate Action Plan, -  75% were applying the tools and learnings in their day-to-day work to influence change in their destinations -  Nearly 2/3 had launched new initiatives or built stronger stakeholder relationships You don’t need to be a climate expert to get started. This course helps you cut through the complexity, take action, and lead with purpose. Join the global community of destination leaders already making progress - 189 tourism professionals from 128 destinations have signed up, or completed the course already. Sign up or learn more: https://lnkd.in/emJV6hc2 A big thank you again to our pilot destinations who led the way as the first to complete this course last year and who helped us to improve it, including: 4TVI (Tourism Vancouver Island), Cook Islands Tourism, Destination Queenstown Inc, Destination Vancouver, Great South, Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism, The National Forest Company, Oberhausen.Tourismus, Oregon Coast Visitors Association, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), visit Berlin, Visit Isle of Wight, Visit Tampere, Welcome to Fife , Development West Coast, WellingtonNZ, Willamette Valley Visitors Association #ClimateAction #SustainableTourism #ResponsibleTourism #DestinationManagement #DestinationClimateChampions

Please be aware our consultation survey is bilingual: English/Spanish. Tenga en cuenta que esta encuesta es bilingüe: inglés/español. https://lnkd.in/eidvrz9s

Where next for tourism in a changing climate? We want to hear from you. Tourism must adapt. The question isn’t whether change is coming. It’s whether we’ll be ready. That’s why we’ve launched 'Where Next? Big Ideas to Power Tourism's Climate Transition', a call to action focused on building climate adaptation and resilience into the very fabric of travel and tourism. And we’re starting with a set of questions - inviting feedback on four ambitious proposals that could help transform tourism for a climate resilient, fair future: - a global risk register for destinations - equity as a standard in tourism planning - a climate justice fund for the places most exposed to climate impacts - phasing out harmful tourism models and investing in better options. We’re also asking: what’s missing? What else should be on the table? If you work in tourism, whether you're a tour guide, policymaker, business owner or community organiser, your insights matter. The consultation is open now and takes just 15–30 minutes. The results will be shared during the COP30 UN Climate Summit in November, leading to a detailed action agenda and roadmap. Help shape the future of tourism. Take part in the consultation today: https://lnkd.in/g_Apw5CA For more information about the campaign go to: https://lnkd.in/gYtyZXhm A huge thanks to our partners on this campaign: Cuidadores de Destinos FINN Partners Preferred Travel Group The Travel Corporation. Debbie Flynn Marco Lucero Nina Boys Shannon Guihan #SustainableTourism #ResponsibleTourism #WhereNext #ClimateAction Picture - Clay Banks, Unsplash

How do tourism and aviation tackle climate change together? What opportunities are we missing? And how can we close the gaps in our collective response? We’ve recently launched ‘Shared Horizons’ with Skyscanner to explore these questions. At the heart of it is a short survey designed to gather real-world insights from across the aviation and tourism sectors. If you work in tourism, aviation, or anywhere in between, we’d love to hear from you: https://lnkd.in/eC8VprcH Not sure what it’s all about? In this short video, Kirsty Webster from Skyscanner and our CEO, Jeremy Sampson explain why we’ve launched this initiative and what your input will help us achieve. It’s early days, but we’re already seeing great engagement and we want to keep the momentum going. The more perspectives we hear, the stronger our shared solutions will be. Thanks to everyone who’s taken part already. If you haven’t yet, there’s still time to make your voice count. #SustainableTourism #ClimateAction #ResponsibleTourism #SharedHorizons

What happens when the aviation and tourism sectors come together to align on climate action? We’re about to find out – and we want your voice in the mix. Today we’re launching ‘Shared Horizons’, a new initiative with Skyscanner that’s all about connecting aviation and tourism for climate action. The aim is to explore how we can work together on climate and bridge any gaps in the sector’s response. It’s also a chance to share mutual support, ideas and challenges. At the heart of this is a short survey to gather insights from across the sector. We’re asking: - How your organisation is responding to aviation-related emissions - What risks, responsibilities and opportunities you see across the system - What’s needed to unlock action – from finance to partnerships - How we can work together to deliver a fairer, faster transition This is your chance to share your views – no blame, no finger-pointing – just honest perspectives to help build shared solutions. The findings will shape a white paper and recommendations for a more joined-up response to climate change. Take the survey and help shape the future of climate action: https://lnkd.in/eC8VprcH For more information go to: https://lnkd.in/eGhbSHV3 Whether you work in tourism or aviation, if you care about the future of travel, we want to hear from you. Jeremy Sampson, Rebecca Armstrong, Kirsty Webster, Sakina Zerrel, Jeremy Smith, Daniel Scott, Melvin Mak, José Juan Lorenzo Rodríguez, Liisa Kokkarinen, Jim Kane, Katie Jones, Christina Leala-Gale, Xavier Font, Alix Farr, Tim Fairhurst, Isobel Campbell, Susanne Becken, Jane Ashton #ClimateAction #SustainableTourism #ResponsibleTourism #TravelFoundation

Can a city really call itself sustainable just because it scores well in a ranking?   A new whitepaper from City Destinations Alliance | CityDNA, 'The score is not the story', takes an honest look at the role of sustainability indexes in tourism, asking some tough questions and raising some important ones too. We think it's essential reading for anyone working in destination management today.   At the Travel Foundation, we recognise the value of indexes and certification schemes. They can offer a useful framework, especially for destinations just starting out on their sustainability journey. They offer structure, help track progress, motivate action and prompt reflection. But, as this white paper highlights, the real work towards sustainability begins where the rankings stop – in the messy, daily work of redesigning systems, shifting power, and reconnecting people with place.    As the whitepaper points out, scores and labels can’t capture lived experience. A high ranking doesn’t mean the air is cleaner, housing more affordable, or communities better off. It doesn’t tell us whether local people feel heard, supported, or proud of where they live.   They also can’t help us to solve how to engage local communities meaningfully – both those who benefit from tourism and those who don’t. When residents are seen as co-creators of a destination, not just hosts, something powerful happens. Trust builds. Place identity strengthens. Tourism becomes something shared, not imposed. Yet, resident voices are often missing from such indexes. That absence, coupled with the omission of aviation emissions, tourism’s largest climate impact, makes most rankings incomplete.   The whitepaper also reminds us that context matters. Cities and destinations don’t all start from the same place. Comparing them without acknowledging their diverse realities and ignoring differences in infrastructure, resources or policy support risks rewarding privilege over real progress. It can also leave smaller, rural or family-run businesses out of the picture altogether.   Used well, indexes can spark learning, action and collaboration. Used poorly, they become a tick-box exercise – more about image than action. As our CEO Jeremy Sampson puts it: “The box-ticking mentality means that compliance becomes the goal, rather than genuine progress or innovation.”   So yes – let’s use the tools. But let’s not confuse them for the whole picture. Sustainability isn’t a badge. It’s a complex, ongoing, context-dependent process. Thanks City Destinations Alliance | CityDNA for this report and for including contributions from our CEO Jeremy Sampson and our Head of Impact, Rebecca Armstrong. Link to the full paper in the comments below. Photo by Kaptured by Kasia on Unsplash

Can a city really call itself sustainable just because it scores well in a ranking?   A new whitepaper from City Destinations Alliance | CityDNA, 'The score is not the story', takes an honest look at the role of sustainability indexes in tourism, asking some tough questions and raising some important ones too. We think it's essential reading for anyone working in destination management today.   At the Travel Foundation, we recognise the value of indexes and certification schemes. They can offer a useful framework, especially for destinations just starting out on their sustainability journey. They offer structure, help track progress, motivate action and prompt reflection. But, as this white paper highlights, the real work towards sustainability begins where the rankings stop – in the messy, daily work of redesigning systems, shifting power, and reconnecting people with place.    As the whitepaper points out, scores and labels can’t capture lived experience. A high ranking doesn’t mean the air is cleaner, housing more affordable, or communities better off. It doesn’t tell us whether local people feel heard, supported, or proud of where they live.   They also can’t help us to solve how to engage local communities meaningfully – both those who benefit from tourism and those who don’t. When residents are seen as co-creators of a destination, not just hosts, something powerful happens. Trust builds. Place identity strengthens. Tourism becomes something shared, not imposed. Yet, resident voices are often missing from such indexes. That absence, coupled with the omission of aviation emissions, tourism’s largest climate impact, makes most rankings incomplete.   The whitepaper also reminds us that context matters. Cities and destinations don’t all start from the same place. Comparing them without acknowledging their diverse realities and ignoring differences in infrastructure, resources or policy support risks rewarding privilege over real progress. It can also leave smaller, rural or family-run businesses out of the picture altogether.   Used well, indexes can spark learning, action and collaboration. Used poorly, they become a tick-box exercise – more about image than action. As our CEO Jeremy Sampson puts it: “The box-ticking mentality means that compliance becomes the goal, rather than genuine progress or innovation.”   So yes – let’s use the tools. But let’s not confuse them for the whole picture. Sustainability isn’t a badge. It’s a complex, ongoing, context-dependent process. Thanks City Destinations Alliance | CityDNA for this report and for including contributions from our CEO Jeremy Sampson and our Head of Impact, Rebecca Armstrong. Link to the full paper in the comments below. Photo by Kaptured by Kasia on Unsplash

Tourism is on the front lines of the climate crisis. This year has already brought record-breaking temperatures, heatwaves, devastating wildfires and flooding to holiday hotspots all around the world, including recently in destinations across Europe. And for tourism leaders, the question is no longer if disruption will happen but how often, and how prepared we are when it does. In a new article for City Nation Place, our Head of Communications and Research, Ben Lynam, explores how destinations can take action to build greater resilience for the long term. That means looking at the bigger picture - rethinking how tourism is planned and managed to support people and place, not just visitors. The article explores what leadership looks like (including examples from Iberostar and Turismo de Islas Canarias) and introduces four big ideas from our 'Where Next?' campaign - systems change enablers to unlock tourism’s climate transition, including a global climate risk register for destinations and a climate justice fund for those most exposed. Read the article, join the conversation, and check out the links in the comments to find out more. https://lnkd.in/evFdTjsg #WhereNext #ClimateAction #TravelFoundation #SustainableTourism #ResponsibleTourism

It’s not easy to get alignment in tourism. Our sector spans a wide range of actors, often with diverging priorities. Politics and funding realities can’t be ignored either. They’re part of the context we must navigate, even as we stay focused on what progress demands. The Glasgow Declaration was a major step toward consistent, coordinated climate action. Building on that momentum, it’s significant that the Travel Foundation now stands alongside global voices from business travel, hospitality, major corporations, and standard-setting bodies, united in calling for greater ambition and urgent action to shape a more resilient, future-fit tourism sector. So yes, we’re proud to support this joint message, developed in collaboration with Travalyst, GBTA | Global Business Travel Association, World Travel & Tourism Council, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, with input from UN Tourism. It reflects a spirit of collaboration that we’ve long championed and shows that there is, in fact, a will to act together. The Travel Foundation simulataneously believes that these admirable messages don't go far enough. Not yet. We believe it’s time to get more specific, about what needs to happen, who needs to act, and how to take on the tougher questions. That includes managing demand for long-haul aviation and ensuring meaningful support for destinations facing the harshest climate risks. That’s the driving force behind our 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩? campaign, with four Big Ideas to rewire tourism for a climate-aligned future. We’re ready to turn this historic alignment into actionable systemic change. Let's keep up this critical momentum. 🌏 https://lnkd.in/ebfURwwV