In 2016, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) penned the Global Report on the Transformative Power of Tourism about a paradigm shift toward a more responsible and conscientious traveler. In his opening address, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai wrote: “Tourism is much more than…
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Tourism done well is the authentic sharing of people, places, and culture in a sustainable and regenerative framework. It creates deep connections between people, elevates our common connections as human beings, and awakens our appreciation of different place and people. Frankly, that is the…
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Over the course of the pandemic, so much has changed for tourism, tourists, and destinations. We’ve talked a lot in this “Future of Tourism” space about how destination organizations are at an existential crossroads. They must do everything they can to become more relevant, essential, and engaged…
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Disruption is often described as a wave. When it comes to the wave of digital disruption, the conditions were based on previous disruptive waves, including the electrification of the world and, later, the creation and growth of computing. “The current wave of disruption is different,” said the…
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For a brief moment in January and February 2022, as we seemed to be coming out of the worst of the global pandemic, it looked like we were on track for a powerful reset that would usher in a new era of global tourism. The era would include a more thoughtful, careful, valuable, and intentional…
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Over the course of the pandemic, three burgeoning latencies in the tourism industry were exposed and accelerated. In brief, engagement, equity, and sustainability catapulted from theoretical ideas that were just beginning to take hold, to mainstream necessities that would shape this industry for…
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The pandemic has accelerated many things in tourism for destination organizations. Topics that are top of mind for CEOs include: community, relevance, sustainability, regeneration, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The Destinations International advocacy team released its Canadian tourism lexicon…
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We often ask whether one person can really make a difference — for the environment, for climate change, and for the community. My answer unequivocally is yes. There are many great examples, but today I want to talk about one young man from Kampala, Uganda, who inspires me. When it comes to…
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Sustainability is economic, social, and environmental. All three, all the time — that’s the future of successful destinations. Where to start? Well, actions speak louder than words, so let’s start there and let’s start with Panama. As destinations worldwide consider their role and function…
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In this time of global crisis and uncertainty, we put the call out to leaders, CEOs, strategists and consultants to sit down and tell us, in their own words, what is going on and what is going to happen next in this vital global industry. What do we need to know about cannabis and cannabis…
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