BEST Education Network

BEST Education Network, commonly abbreviated as BEST-EN, is an international academic and professional network focused on sustainable tourism. Headquartered at James Cook University in Australia, it brings together people working in tourism education, research, and practice with the goal of improving the creation and dissemination of knowledge in the field. The network developed from a broader initiative called Business Enterprises for Sustainable Travel, established in 1998. That initiative addressed the need for tourism-related knowledge and practice to engage more directly with sustainability. As the initiative evolved, its educational and curriculum-oriented activities became increasingly distinct from the wider organization. In 2003, the group responsible for those activities became independent and adopted the name BEST Education Network. BEST-EN is characterized as international, inclusive, and collaborative. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer-facing tourism company, it functions as a knowledge network connecting academics and other specialists concerned with sustainable tourism. Its work is centered on supporting education and professional practice, including the development, exchange, and dissemination of ideas relevant to sustainable tourism. The network is coordinated by an international Executive Committee made up of academics with expertise in sustainable tourism. The available reference material identifies Dr. Gianna Moscardo as chair of the committee. The organization’s institutional base at James Cook University provides an academic setting for its international activities, while its network structure allows participation and collaboration beyond a single university or national market. BEST Education Network sits within the wider fields of sustainable tourism and ecotourism. Its subject matter includes the relationship between tourism and environmental, social, cultural, and economic sustainability, although the available reference material does not provide a detailed catalogue of programs, publications, membership arrangements, events, or commercial services. Accordingly, BEST-EN is best understood as an education and knowledge-dissemination network rather than a travel agency, online travel operator, or tourism consumer brand.

BEST Education Network emerged from the broader Business Enterprises for Sustainable Travel initiative, which was founded in 1998. The original BEST initiative was established to develop and disseminate knowledge related to sustainable tourism. Its focus reflected the growing importance of linking tourism activity with environmental, social, cultural, and economic responsibility. During the early development of the organization, educational and curriculum work formed an important part of the wider initiative. In 2003, organizational changes resulted in the group responsible for these educational and curriculum activities becoming independent. It adopted the name BEST Education Network, or BEST-EN, and developed as an international network dedicated specifically to sustainable tourism education and knowledge exchange. The network’s structure is collaborative and international rather than that of a conventional commercial corporation. It is coordinated by an Executive Committee composed of academics with expertise in sustainable tourism. The available reference material identifies Dr. Gianna Moscardo as the committee’s chair. BEST-EN is headquartered at James Cook University in Australia, but its stated orientation is international. Its role is to support the creation and dissemination of knowledge for both education and practice in sustainable tourism. This places the network within the academic and professional ecosystem surrounding sustainable tourism and ecotourism. The available material does not establish a detailed chronology of publications, conferences, campaigns, membership changes, or commercial offerings, so those elements are not expanded here.

• 2003

  BEST Education Network becomes independent

  [1]BEST Education Networken.wikipedia.org

  The organization overseeing the educational and curriculum dimensions of the broader BEST initiative became independent and adopted the BEST Education Network name.

• 1998

  Business Enterprises for Sustainable Travel founded

  [1]BEST Education Networken.wikipedia.org

  The broader initiative from which BEST Education Network later emerged was established to develop and disseminate knowledge about sustainable tourism.

An international, inclusive, and collaborative knowledge network for sustainable tourism education and practice.

• Education and professional knowledge network · 2003

  Sustainable tourism education and knowledge exchange

  BEST Education Network’s core offering is a collaborative knowledge platform supporting education and practice in sustainable tourism. Its work concerns the creation, exchange, and dissemination of knowledge rather than the sale of travel or accommodation. The available reference material does not specify individual courses, publications, or subscription products.

1. 1BEST Education Networken.wikipedia.org
2. 2BEST Education Network homepagebesteducationnetwork.org