travel

for

better

The Travel For Better Foundation is dedicated to creating a brighter and more sustainable future for our global community. Our mission is to leverage the power of travel to uplift communities, promote environmental stewardship, and foster sustainable economies, ensuring that tourism leaves a lasting, positive impact on destinations worldwide.

Our History

In 1985, Debbie Bush turned a lifelong passion into something more—founding a travel business that would eventually become one of the country’s top luxury travel firms. What started as a one-woman operation quickly grew as her husband, Craig, and son, Josh, joined the business, bringing their own expertise and deep love of travel into the fold.

But for the Bush family, travel has always been more than just an industry—it’s a powerful force for good. Through their own journeys, they’ve seen firsthand how tourism can create life-changing opportunities, from entry-level hospitality jobs that evolve into leadership roles to local businesses that thrive because of thoughtful, intentional travelers.

Inspired by the impact they’ve witnessed, the Bush family wanted to create something bigger—a way to ensure that travel benefits the people and places that make it possible. That vision led to Travel for Better, a foundation dedicated to uplifting communities, protecting the environment, and fostering sustainable economies through tourism.

Today, Travel for Better is working to reshape the industry, proving that travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about the difference you make while you’re there.

People: Uplifting Communities

Travel should empower, not exploit. We support tourism that respects local cultures, uplifts communities, and fosters deep, meaningful connections between travelers and the people who call these destinations home.

Responsible travel means honoring the traditions, histories, and identities of the places we visit, ensuring that local voices are centered rather than overshadowed. Authentic experiences should not be performative or commodified for tourism but should instead be opportunities for genuine cultural exchange.

Sustainable tourism also means ensuring that travel benefits host communities in ways that align with their needs and priorities.

This includes promoting tourism models that respect local governance, protect cultural heritage, and reinforce community resilience. Travelers have a responsibility to approach destinations with humility and a willingness to learn, embracing travel as a bridge to deeper cross-cultural understanding. When tourism is people-centered, it fosters long-term relationships between visitors and hosts, leading to experiences that are both enriching and mutually beneficial.

Planet: Promoting Environmental Stewardship

The beauty of our world is what makes travel so extraordinary—but only if we protect it. We advocate for responsible tourism that minimizes environmental impact, supports conservation efforts, and prioritizes regenerative practices.

The travel industry must go beyond merely reducing harm and instead focus on leaving destinations better than they were before. This means championing travel practices that restore ecosystems, regenerate biodiversity, and actively contribute to environmental health.

True sustainability in travel requires rethinking how we move through the world—whether that’s prioritizing low-impact transportation, supporting accommodations that implement circular economy principles, or encouraging travelers to adopt conservation-minded habits.

Protecting our planet is not an optional add-on to travel; it is a fundamental responsibility for ensuring future generations can continue to experience its wonders.

Economy: Creating Sustainable Prosperity

Tourism should drive long-term, sustainable prosperity. We support economic models that keep wealth within destinations, empower local entrepreneurs, and invest in community-led initiatives.

This means rejecting exploitative tourism models that extract value from local communities without reinvesting in them. Instead, sustainable tourism prioritizes businesses that are locally owned and operated, ensuring that economic benefits remain within the community rather than flowing to external stakeholders.

A resilient tourism economy also means diversifying income streams to prevent over-reliance on a single industry. This could include fostering sustainable supply chains that connect tourism with local agriculture, artisans, and service providers.

Destinations should be able to set their own terms for how tourism integrates into their economic fabric, ensuring that tourism development aligns with broader community well-being. When done right, tourism can serve as a driver for financial stability, innovation, and long-term self-sufficiency for those who call these places home.