The Fitzpatrick Destination Stewardship Framework

Stewardship begins with authority. Who shapes tourism policy, controls resources and has the power to approve, change or challenge decisions affecting the destination?

Visitor spending alone does not show who benefits. Examine local ownership, jobs, procurement, public reinvestment and whether tourism-generated value remains in the community.

Identify the cultural, environmental and community assets that tourism should strengthen—not consume, dilute or displace.

Tourism operates within limits. Housing, infrastructure, ecosystems, workforce, water, mobility and community tolerance all affect how much pressure a destination can absorb.

Measurement matters only when it influences what happens next. Accountability asks whether commitments are tracked, responsibilities are clear and results lead to meaningful action.

Destination stewardship can become an appealing idea without changing how a place operates. The challenge is turning shared values into decisions, investment and measurable accountability.

Drawing on the research and case studies explored in Destination Stewardship, the Fitzpatrick Destination Stewardship Framework examines five questions that reveal whether stewardship actually shapes destination management.

It is designed for destinations of every type and scale—from cities and regions to islands, rural communities, nations and protected areas.

Strengths and Gaps
See where stewardship is embedded—and where important weaknesses remain.

Competing Priorities
Bring economic, community, cultural and environmental considerations into clearer view.

Pressure Points
Identify where tourism may be creating risks or exceeding what a place can comfortably sustain.

Paths Forward
Create a stronger basis for leadership conversations, investment and action.

Go beyond the five dimensions with the research, global case studies and practitioner insights behind the framework in Destination Stewardship: Drive Sustainability, Economic Renewal, and Cultural Integrity.

Explore how destination stewardship can inform leadership, policy and organizational decision-making through keynotes, executive conversations and customized workshops with Tonya Fitzpatrick.