Purpose Disruption due to a crisis or disaster is a constant threat for the tourism industry, unfortunately the frameworks designed to prepare leaders for these events are inadequate. Most frameworks are designed to assess and enhance resilience and recovery and minimally prepare leaders for the complexities that emerge before, during and after these events. The purpose of this paper is to offer a leadership development framework that integrates context, competence and a complexity mindset. Design/methodology/approach This general review examines the literature focused on crises and disasters in the tourism industry for the purpose of understanding the circumstances surrounding several kinds of disruptive events, the competencies needed to address them. It also explores the usefulness of three forms of leadership development inputs. The result is a framework that builds capacity while ensuring organizational alignment. Findings The preparation of tourism industry leaders who address implications of crises and disaster should involve an understanding of the crisis processes and factors that can be known, and the development of a mindset that allows the leader to address those factors which cannot be known beforehand. Originality/value This paper offers a framework for tourism leaders and developers that moves beyond static and linear approaches to crisis and disaster training. It encourages the acquisition of contextual knowledge and adaptive processes through leadership-focused education, exposure to leaders and experiences.