Travel and tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy and while irresponsible and haphazard development can take an enormous toll on the environment and the well-being of local communities, tourism also has potential to generate economic opportunity and provide the incentive for cultural and natural resource protection—particularly in the world’s most vulnerable environmental and social regions. Since 2002, Sustainable Travel International has been working to improve lives and protect places by providing businesses and destinations with the guidance and support they need to plan responsibly for the future. We have found that the best approach to creating long-term sustainability is through empowerment— by providing stakeholders with the direction they need to effectively plan for, manage, monitor and promote their own path to safeguarding their future.