Travel is for everyone—it has the power to connect people, break down barriers, and create meaningful experiences. At Tourism Cares, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are essential pillars of a thriving travel industry. The industry must actively work to ensure that all people, regardless of background or ability, feel welcomed, represented, and supported.

Let’s create a more equitable industry now by making a commitment to DEI. A commitment is more than words—it’s a pledge to take action, make meaningful change, and drive initiatives that benefit the people and places of travel. Choose areas that align with your team’s passions and seamlessly integrate them into your business strategy.

Take Action - Make a DEI Commitment

What Do We Mean by “Commitment?”

A commitment is a pledge to take action, make a change, or drive an initiative forward that will make a positive impact for the people and places of travel. We recommend prioritizing areas aligned with your team's passions that can easily be folded into your business strategy. We have found that the best commitments are:

  1. Inspired by what you are passionate about or something you recently learned

  2. New commitments that you or your company haven’t already decided to do

  3. SMART, ie. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. If you are unfamiliar with this approach, this guide can help you write a SMART goal.

Commitment Form

DEI Commitment Resources

Tourism Cares and its partners are here to help you advance your diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Below is a list of tools, training programs, and organizations that can help guide your commitment to creating a more inclusive travel industry.

Tourism Cares Resources

  • Meaningful Travel Map - Discover diverse tourism organizations and suppliers that are driving positive change in communities around the world.

  • “An Introduction to Climate Justice” - This course addresses the critical challenges climate change presents to the travel industry, focusing on the unequal impact on marginalized communities and the industry's role in adopting equitable solutions that address both environmental and social disparities.

  • “Working with Indigenous Communities” - Explore how tourism can responsibly engage with Indigenous communities, emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity and collaboration. This course provides insights and best practices for developing meaningful Indigenous tourism experiences that honor and empower Indigenous cultures while educating travelers.

  • “Introduction to Disability Inclusion & Accessibility in Hospitality” - Learn about the critical topic of accessibility in the travel industry, including the significance of creating inclusive environments for travelers with disabilities and insights into how you can enhance your services to cater to diverse needs.

  • Best Practices in LGBTQ+ Tourism - Created in partnership with HospitableMe, this guide will provide top tips on how to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ travelers.

Partner Organizations and Additional Resources

  • Travel Unity - Access DEI training, tools, and certification programs tailored for the travel and hospitality industries to help make your business more inclusive.

  • Black Travel Alliance (BTA) - Created to encourage, educate, equip, and excel Black travel professionals in education, media, and corporate positions, BTA focuses on creating equitable opportunities in the travel industry through alliance, accountability, and amplification.

  • International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) - Find tools and strategies for creating inclusive and welcoming experiences for LGBTQ+ travelers, along with networking opportunities to support LGBTQ+ travel businesses.

  • Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance (CHEA) - CHEA works to create inclusive and equitable opportunities for underserved tourism businesses and students through sustainable tourism initiatives designed to prepare and position small businesses for growth opportunities, and students for global travel experiences, entrepreneurial and employment opportunities in the industry.

  • American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) - Learn how to engage with and support Native American tourism through resources, training programs, and partnerships that uplift Indigenous communities and promote cultural preservation.

  • VisitAble - VisitAble serves as a resource for both the disability community and institutions, organizations, and companies all over America, connecting the two together.

  • Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) - ITAC focuses on marketing, product development support, and creating partnerships between associations, organizations, government departments, and industry leaders from across Canada to support the growth of Indigenous tourism in Canada.

These resources are designed to help you take actionable steps to make travel more inclusive, equitable, and impactful. Start your DEI journey today by exploring these tools and aligning them with your organization’s goals.

SPOTLIGHT: THE PEOPLE + PLACES OF TOURISM CARES

Georgia Street Community Collective (GSCC) | Tourism Cares with Detroit 2017

A partner site during our Meaningful Travel Summit event in 2017, GSCC turned an empty lot in Detroit to what is is now the home of the Georgia Street Community Gardens. The Collective serves to revitalize the neighborhood, using the garden and education programs to mentor area youth and attract new business to the area.