CTRD was created in 1992 by the tourism faculty to serve tourism destinations and industries through research in Florida. Since its establishment, the Center has been committed to excellence in research, and has evolved to become a major center for tourism research in Florida and beyond. The Center facilitates interdisciplinary research projects focusing on a wide range of travel, tourism and hospitality opportunities. The Center is dedicated to being the premier academic tourism research center in the country with a focus on contributing to the long-term sustainability of communities in a global society. CTRD is housed within the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management at the University of Florida.

CTRD is committed to building a bridge between the tourism industry, organizations, destinations, and higher education through excellence in interdisciplinary research that provides strategic information focused on a wide array of travel, tourism and hospitality opportunities.

CTRD is recognized as a global leader responsive to the needs of industry partners and the academic process. The Center uses interdisciplinary research teams engaged in research to solve tourism problems and expand the knowledge base for the industry and the academic world. Through a commitment to research excellence and passion for knowledge, Center personnel and affiliates lead the nation in transforming intellectual knowledge into useable, sustainable strategies to enhance international, national, state and local tourism organizations, companies, agencies and destinations.

CTRD aims to:

• Create best-practice guides and training manuals about tourism development
• Help formulate public- and private-sector policies that will lead to improvement in tourism planning and development
• Facilitate collaboration between industry partners via coordination of a newsletter, practitioner-oriented concept papers, lecture series and annual conference
• Train tourism-related and government employees, as well as community residents, via workshops and certification programs, thus increasing capacities and opportunities
• Research tourism-related impacts, including economic, environmental and cultural issues
• Develop opportunities for tourism research in the industry and communities
• Network, interact and collaborate with organizations and institutions that focus on tourism issues in the state, nation and world
• Communicate findings on tourism research to industry partners, elected officials and community organizations