BEST: Business Enterprises for Sustainable Travel


	Home About BEST BEST Programs BEST Education Network Travellers' Philanthropy Community Tourism BEST Case Studies Resource Centre Events Partners Contact us	About BEST BEST History BEST Future BEST Committees BEST's objective is to serve as a leading source of knowledge on innovative travel and tourism practices that advance business, community and travellers' interests and which also support the economic and social sustainability of destinations. BEST’s major areas of activity are education programs, a showcase of case studies and a resource centre. BEST program activities involve university-level education; travellers philanthropy and community tourism. The aim of this website is to showcase and share good practice information BEST History BEST was started in 1999 with a grant from the Ford Foundation and served as an incubator for a variety of activities aimed at encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices, stimulating the demand for such practices by travellers, and helping communities start pilot programs. Under the direction of Michael Seltzer until late 2003, many conferences and programs were attended and launched. To see past press activities and programs, please click here. BEST Future In late 2003, BEST became a part of the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) as a programme of the International Tourism Partnership, and continues to be a resource for everyone interested in the vital task of encouraging sustainable travel practices by the travel & tourism industry, communities, educators and individual travellers. BEST Committees BEST's network of educators, community leaders, foundation executives and industry leaders work through committees which guide the direction of BEST's activities and help realize BEST's vision of a better world through travel. BEST Education Network: This committee of university professors develops teaching materials that introduce and develop the concept of sustainability. An annual Think Tank, held in July each year, is open to industry, education, government and community leaders interested in supporting innovative concepts and meeting with like-minded colleagues. For further information visit www.besteducationnetwork.org. BEST Travellers' Philanthropy: BEST's activities in the area of encouraging action by individual travellers and by destinations are continuing with the next conference. This is chaired by Andrew Fairley who can be contacted on aef@turtlefiji.com.au Community Tourism: BEST held a summit on this important topic in May 2003 which demonstrated both the need for further research on and the extensive interest in this topic. The focal point of BEST's community tourism efforts are now under the leadership of the Handmade Institute for the Creative Economy, an organization with a proven track record in developing community tourism programs. Through its publications, BEST continues to serve as a resource for the global community.
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