ABOUT OWNER JIM WEST

Jim West, CEO Craftours
International Ambassador of Arts and Culture

Jim West is the founder and CEO of Craftours, a company that began in his grandmother’s basement in 1995 and has grown into the world’s leading tour operator for crafters and niche market travelers. For more than three decades, Jim has combined creativity, culture, and travel to build a global community centered on meaningful experiences.

He is the Emmy nominated producer and host of Destination Craft, distributed by American Public Television and reaching more than 90 million households across the United States, representing 85 percent of the American television market according to TRAC Media.

Recognized internationally as the “International Ambassador of Art, Culture and Wellness,” Jim has traveled to more than 126 countries, championing artisans and elevating traditional crafts to global recognition. A visionary travel entrepreneur, producer, and author, he is widely known for his dynamic energy, innovative ideas, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Before founding Craftours, Jim spent over a decade as a professional cruise director, completing more than 1,563 cruises and traveling to all seven continents. His extensive cruise expertise led to his featured role as the cruise expert on the Travel Channel’s program Cruise Ships FAQ.

Following an expedition to Antarctica with Sir Edmund Hillary, Jim authored his first best selling book, The Essential Little Cruise Book, featuring more than 750 practical tips for cruise travelers. Sir Edmund Hillary contributed a quote for the cover, describing it as “a very practical book with sound information for everyone, from people planning their first cruise adventure to hardened travel agents.”

Jim is also the owner of Namaste Group Productions, LLC, producing television and media projects focused on travel, culture, cooking, and wellness. He founded Namaste Publications, a publishing company devoted to books for the mind, body, and spirit, and continues to develop programs that inspire creative living and purposeful travel.

Among his many achievements, Jim founded and directed the first International Quilt Festival of Ireland and the first International Batik Expo in Bali. He also created Craftposium, the first and longest running online magazine in the craft industry, later known as Craftours Lifestyles. He has contributed to several best selling Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, including Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Virtues.

Jim is a proud member of the Producers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Before launching his career in travel and media, Jim worked as an actor in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1993, appearing in national commercials and television series such as T.J. Hooker, The Facts of Life, and Square Pegs.

Throughout every chapter of his career, Jim West has remained guided by one central purpose: connecting people to the world through creativity, culture, and unforgettable journeys.