These are unprecedented times for the travel industry and for our world. The impacts of COVID-19 have been deeply felt in communities across the globe. Tourism workers and local businesses are being hit hard. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the industry that accounts for 10% of global GDP is now at risk of seeing cuts of 75 million jobs worldwide.
The mission of the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) is to promote responsible tourism policies and practices so that local communities may thrive and steward their cultural resources and biodiversity. As the world considers the future of travel and tourism, our work to promote sustainability and address economic inequality is more important than ever. It is vital that recovery efforts prioritize the needs of everyday people and protect the precious cultures and natural environments that sustain them.
As an organization, CREST has responded swiftly to the coronavirus pandemic, taking strategic action to maximize our impact. Right now, we are working to address the COVID-19 crisis by:
- Releasing the 2020 edition of our annual report, The Case for Responsible Travel: Trends & Statistics, which will have a special feature on the impacts of COVID-19 and the importance of addressing another key threat to our industry's future - climate change.
- Hosting a webinar in honor of World Tourism Day that will share the findings of our 2020 Trends & Statistics report and feature expert commentary on the business, destination, and consumer cases for responsible travel. This webinar will take place on September 29, 2020.
- Sharing helpful and timely resources on coronavirus and travel through communications campaigns and initiatives, including our monthly Responsible Travel Roundup email series.
- Highlighting the importance of an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible approach to tourism's recovery in media interviews and outreach. Now more than ever, CREST's voice is needed to help shape relief and recovery efforts.
- Partnering with like-minded nonprofits, tourism businesses, and academic institutions to develop new research, projects, and strategies in support of a sustainable future for tourism.
- Supporting our field projects and consultancies remotely and providing our partners on the ground with tools to manage this crisis. Later this year, we will launch our new Impact Tourism Handbook, which will provide case studies on how destinations and tourism companies can better support local community development and environmental stewardship.
These urgently-needed initiatives would not be possible without supporters like you. We hope you'll join us in this work by donating to CREST's Responsible Recovery Fund. Every donation makes a difference as we work to expand our impact in the wake of this crisis and develop solutions that prioritize the wellbeing of our planet and its people.
While there are still tough times ahead, there's so much that we can achieve by working together. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and continued support of our mission.
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