Worldwide, tourism is an important industry to the global economy. It contributes millions of dollars to world economy, and continues to grow. With the growth or tourism emerges concern for negative impact on the host country or region's environment, culture, and social structure. Local and regional governments, non-profit organizations, and other agencies and institutions are affecting action and policy toward sustainable activities that address these concerns. These efforts are important and necessary for systemic sustainable actions within a region or country.

It is important to recognize and embrace the significant role of governmental and agency involvement in worldwide efforts for a sustainable approach to environmental, social, cultural and economic preservation of developing countries. That critical element is necessary for global systemic change.

The concept presented in this paper, however, emphasizes issues from the community perspective; how a community develops its tourism efforts to reflect its environmental, culture and social structure, while enhancing the economic base; teaching the visitor culturally and socially appropriate behavior; and guiding the development of value-sensitive educational tourism in the area to keep activities within a boundary of acceptance by the community.

Dr Vannetta Perry is an educational consultant from the State of New Mexico, USA. Since 1999, she has directed international research projects for educators in developing countries and has initiated numerous collaborations between US and host country universities. These projects have grown to involve the development of commercial tourism projects that Dr Perry terms "value-sensitive educational tourism" with the organization, Global EduTrek. As project director of Global EduTrek, Dr Vannetta Perry is responsible for all aspects of international educational project planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. The international projects Dr Perry develops focus on studying the socio-economic and cultural aspects of a community within a developing country and their complex relationship with the environmental quality of that community, providing a fascinating setting for in-depth research and experiential learning.