Destination Stewardship Research
In an era of rapid change and growing complexity in tourism, destinations and organizations need access to critical, unbiased research to make sound, forward-looking decisions. To support this need, our research initiatives are designed to generate practical, actionable insights that help tourism stakeholders navigate evolving challenges and opportunities. Our project team produces research that informs decision-making for destination managers, policymakers, and local businesses alike.
Looking for research-backed guidance tailored to your destination or organization? Let’s talk about how we can support your goals.
International Arctic Cruise Tourism: Navigating Nature & Culture in Northern Communities
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In partnership with the National Science Foundation, the GW International Institute of Tourism Studies evaluated the impact of rapidly growing cruise tourism in the north. Arctic Cruise Tourism: Navigating Nature & Culture in Northern Communities, an international research project, investigated challenges in Juneau and Nome in Alaska, US; Bergen, Norway; Visby on Gotland, Sweden, and Akureyri, Iceland, specifically, and analyzed how the rapidly growing cruise tourism industry was impacting these destinations.
The report will be released in 2025.
Destination Forward: Evaluating Sustainability Impacts of Destination Stewardship Plans in the United States
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The GW International Institute of Tourism Studies, supported by Miles Partnership and the Coraggio Group, is conducting a first-of-its-kind study that will analyze how the new generation of destination management plans are advancing sustainable tourism and addressing complex challenges across diverse destinations. We aim to explore what defines effective destination stewardship strategies and how they empower action for more sustainable tourism.
COVID-19 Pandemic Relief in the Caribbean
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In collaboration with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the GW International Institute of Tourism Studies conducted a study on the early effects of COVID-19 on Caribbean destination management and marketing organizations. To learn what the Caribbean tourism industry's early responses to the pandemic actually were and what was working, our team inventoried tourism destination actions from March-May 2020 on mobility, economic relief, destination management and community support, crisis communication and destination marketing. We sourced information from websites, databases, and social media channels and a survey of CTO's member countries. Our findings can be found in the Destination Organization Responses to COVID-19 Report, which was compiled to help organizations prepare for sustainable recovery and adapt lessons learned to potential future crises.