The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the Urban Transformation Summit 2025, organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) from 21–23 October 2025 in San Francisco, California (USA). The Summit brought together global leaders from business, government, and civil society to explore practical solutions for building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities.
The programme focused on four main themes: navigating change to build resilience, unlocking new frontiers for local economic growth, leveraging sustainability as a competitive advantage, and seeding the next generation of game-changing innovations.
Through strategic dialogues, working sessions, and site visits across San Francisco, participants engage directly with tangible examples of innovation in climate resilience, infrastructure, mobility, and nature-positive design.
GSTC CEO Randy Durband participated in the strategic dialogue titled “Can Tourism Preserve Local Culture?” on the 22nd of October. The session addressed the dual challenge of tourism-driven economic opportunity and the preservation of cultural identity amid rapid urban and tourism growth. The discussion explored how tourism can both respect and reinforce the unique character of destinations.
“Tourism can only be truly successful when it sustains the culture that gives each place its meaning. Preserving identity while welcoming the world is not a contradiction; it’s the essence of responsible growth.” Said Mr. Durband.
The dialogue concluded with clear next steps: identifying replicable city models that demonstrate culture-centred tourism and community; developing shared indicators to measure cultural vitality and resident well-being and inclusive economic impact; and establishing a collaborative platform to translate cultural strategies into urban action.
Mr. Durband also served as Co-Chair of the session “Building the Destinations of Tomorrow”, which explored how destinations can balance growth, drive sustainable investment, optimize economic returns, and enhance community resilience.
By engaging in this global forum, GSTC reiterates its commitment to collaboration and knowledge exchange in support of a tourism sector that promotes resilience, inclusivity, and cultural preservation.
