About Tourism Cares

 
The History of Tourism Cares

Tourism Cares was formed by the combining of the National Tourism Foundation, founded by the National Tour Association in 1982, and the Travelers Conservation Foundation, founded in 1999 by the United States Tour Operators Association. The resulting non-profit organization benefits society by preserving the travel experience for future generations through awarding grants to natural, cultural and historic sites worldwide; by presenting academic and service-focused scholarships to hospitality and tourism students; and by organizing volunteer efforts to restore tourism-related sites in need of care and rejuvenation.


Our Mission

To preserve the travel experience for future generations.

A Message from the Executive Director

Thank you for visiting Tourism Cares. As you browse this site, you will find the many ways that Tourism Cares is achieving its mission to preserve the travel experience for future generations.

The world’s environment is fragile – not only the air that we breathe and the water we drink, but the sights that all of us travel to see, experience and enjoy, whether natural, cultural or historical.

This is why Tourism Cares was founded by the tourism industry – because the tourism industry cares about our world. Travel and tourism professionals and their travelers who appreciate and enjoy the wonderful treasures the world has to offer want to make sure these places are here for their grandchildren.

Not only do we give grants to support tourism sites around the world, but we ensure the professionalism of travel’s future workforce by giving scholarships to those who pursue that career path.

And our volunteer projects continue to grow. In 2009, around 750 travel industry volunteers gathered in places like Gettysburg, PA, Philadelphia, Mecklenburg, Germany, and Washington, DC. In Gettysburg to begin the restoration of an 80-acre farm on the famous battlefield that was saved from development by the Gettysburg Foundation and eventually will become an education center to continue to tell the story of what happened there nearly 150 years ago. In Philadelphia to do some vitally needed maintenance work at the country’s oldest zoo… in Germany to plant trees in an eco-forest … and in Washington, DC to paint benches and fences on the National Mall (which, unfortunately, had to be cancelled at the last minute due to inclement weather, but “we’ll be back.”)

2010 promises more good works that will benefit the traveling public. More grants, more scholarships and more volunteer projects. Mark this site as a favorite and come back often to see what we’re doing for our world and how you can be a part of preserving it for our kids.

Wishing you safe and enjoyable travels throughout 2010, I am

Sincerely yours,

Bruce Beckham, CTP
Executive Director