The Next Chapter of Change: An Interview with Jyrki Nilson, Co-Founder & CEO of GapEdu Consulting & Training
Celebrating 25 Years of GapEdu (2000–2025)
Conducted by the Strategic Development & Global Partnerships Department, GapEdu Consulting & Training
As GapEdu celebrates its 25th anniversary, we sit down with Mr. Jyrki Nilson, Co-Founder and CEO, to discuss the organization’s next phase — how a homegrown idea has evolved into a global catalyst for sustainable tourism and responsible development, and how GapEdu will continue to shape the policies and practices that define the industry’s future.
- GapEdu has just celebrated 25 years of building bridges in tourism and sustainability. Looking ahead, what will define the next era of GapEdu’s work?
Jyrki Nilson:
Our next era is about deepening impact. Over the past 25 years, GapEdu has grown from a local initiative in Vietnam into an advisory and training network that connects governments, businesses, and communities across continents. We’ve proven that tourism can be both profitable and purposeful.
Now, the next chapter is about systems-level change. We’re shifting from project-based engagements to becoming a central platform that supports policy development and implementation on a global scale. Our mission is to bridge the gap between vision and action — to ensure that sustainability policies are not just written but lived.
This means aligning with national tourism strategies, advising on policy frameworks, and then training all relevant stakeholders — from local administrators to business operators — to implement those frameworks in real conditions. It’s not just about consulting what to do, but empowering people with how to do it.
- You mentioned GapEdu’s new role as a “central platform.” What does that look like in practice, especially when working with governments and the private sector?
Jyrki Nilson:
We see GapEdu as an ecosystem connector. Policy development, training, and implementation are often handled by separate entities. We bring these together under one roof.
When we consult for a government — whether at national, provincial, or municipal level — we don’t stop at producing a policy paper. We design the capacity-building ecosystem around it. That means creating tailored training modules for public officials, private companies, and community actors, ensuring they understand and apply the same sustainability standards.
For example, when advising a tourism board on green destination planning, we don’t just define indicators. We train hotel managers, local tour operators, and community entrepreneurs on how to meet those indicators. This creates a closed loop where policy translates directly into measurable progress.
For the private sector, we see increasing demand for implementation intelligence — how to operationalize sustainability beyond marketing. That’s where GapEdu’s dual expertise in consulting and training gives us a unique edge.
- How will partnerships shape GapEdu’s strategy in this new phase?
Jyrki Nilson:
Partnership is the foundation of everything we do. No single organization can achieve sustainability at scale. GapEdu’s next phase is about strategic alignment — building partnerships with governments, development organizations, tourism boards, and major private sector players who share our values.
We aim to become a trusted partner to those shaping the future of tourism — not only in destinations, but also across supportive industries such as transportation, hospitality, digital services, and education.
We’re also expanding our collaboration with multilateral institutions and global initiatives. Through partnerships, we can amplify our methodology — ensuring that sustainable tourism is not just a discussion topic but a governance standard.
Ultimately, partnership allows us to turn sustainability from an aspiration into a shared operating model.
- GapEdu has influenced sustainable tourism policy at both local and international levels. What’s next in terms of global impact?
Jyrki Nilson:
Our global impact will focus on two priorities: policy consultancy and capacity transformation.
We are expanding our advisory work to support governments in integrating tourism with broader sustainability goals — from climate adaptation and biodiversity protection to community resilience and cultural preservation. But the real difference will come from how these policies are implemented.
GapEdu is introducing a new model we call “Integrated Policy-to-Practice Training.” It ensures that once a government adopts a sustainability framework, we immediately provide tailored training to help all stakeholders — ministries, tourism boards, local operators, and investors — turn the policy into action.
For example, if a country adopts a regenerative tourism strategy, our team develops a training ecosystem that includes national workshops for policymakers, on-site mentoring for tourism SMEs, and online modules for educators and community leaders.
In this way, our consulting doesn’t end with recommendations — it evolves into measurable, human-centered transformation.
- As GapEdu looks toward the next 25 years, what is your vision for its legacy and contribution to global tourism?
Jyrki Nilson:
Our legacy will not be defined by the number of projects we deliver, but by the mindsets we change.
Tourism is not just an industry — it’s a reflection of how societies connect, learn, and grow. For the next 25 years, I want GapEdu to remain the bridge between those worlds — where economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental stewardship reinforce each other, not compete.
We envision a world where every tourism policy is designed with purpose, every destination develops with respect, and every traveler becomes part of a regenerative cycle.
GapEdu’s contribution will be to make this transformation actionable. To help governments govern better, businesses operate smarter, and communities benefit more equitably.
If we can do that — if we can continue to be the quiet force that aligns sustainability with opportunity — then our story will always be one of hope, courage, and shared growth.
Interview conducted by:
Strategic Development & Global Partnerships Department
GapEdu Consulting & Training