Context Foundation for Sustainable Travel
Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries. It is also one of the most potentially harmful. Not only is plane travel one of the leading causes of rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere, and hence a significant engine of climate change; but mass tourism alters landscapes, damages monuments, and seriously impacts local cultures and the unique social fabric of places.
At the same time, travel is one of the most transformative and ameliorative forces on the planet. Cross-cultural understanding, a sense of history and place, and an appreciation for art and creativity--these are the children of travel properly undertaken.
The Context Foundation for Sustainable Travel addresses itself both to the negative and positive aspects of tourism and travel. Through projects in cultural heritage and preservation, economic development, and research we aim to mitigate the harmful effects of tourism on fragile or culturally sensitive places. Through such initiatives as a travel fellowship for economically disadvantaged students we seek to broaden and enhance its positive impact. In both cases, each of our projects is uniquely designed to preserve the essential spirit of place in the face of mass tourism.
The Context Foundation is a registered 501c3 non-profit with offices in Philadelphia.