New initiative aims to help destinations and businesses ‘solve shared challenges’

Travel Forward – formerly the Travel Foundation – has launched Travel Forward Connect, a global membership community bringing tourism destinations and businesses together to tackle “shared” challenges.

The charity said destinations and global travel businesses are often trying to solve the same challenges – from climate risk and visitor pressure to spreading local benefits – but “rarely have a shared space in which to work on them together”.

Organisations interested in joining Travel Forward Connect are invited to attend an introductory webinar on May 27, where Travel Forward will outline the purpose of the community, explain membership options and introduce some of the first members to join.

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Jeremy Sampson, chief executive of Travel Forward, said: “For too long, destinations and travel businesses have been expected to solve shared challenges separately.

“Travel Forward Connect is designed to bring them around the same table, with a shared focus on honest conversation and practical action.

“That means being willing to address the issues that really shape the future of tourism, including responding to climate vulnerability, shifting how the money flows, reducing economic leakage and putting communities at the centre of destination development.” 

The founding members will also help shape an initial collaborative pilot project linked to the charity’s mission “to spark big changes” in how tourism benefits destinations. 

Membership includes monthly online convenings, insight briefings, access to emerging research and case studies, opportunities to shape Travel Forward’s wider agenda, and participation in a growing international network focused on destination resilience and wellbeing. 

The community is open to destination management organisations, national tourism authorities, tourism businesses, operators, hotel groups and travel platforms that are committed to supporting long-term destination resilience and fair outcomes for communities. 

For more information about Travel Forward Connect and the upcoming webinar, visit Travel Forward at travel-forward.org or email connect@travel-forward.org