With the impact of climate change affecting every part of the globe, the practice of ecotourism is becoming increasingly important.
Today, the ecotourism sector is a major growth area for the global tourism industry, its material worth pegged at US$295.83 billion as of end-2025.
Indeed, a forecast from Spherical Insights sees the sector growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.7 percent, bringing its total worth to US$838.5 billion by 2032.
Per the most recent report from Fortune Business Insights, the nature and wildlife tourism segment currently holds a major ecotourism market share of 59.23 percent, given the rising interest in conservation tours, safari treks, as well as mountain tourism.
But ecotourism isn’t just a matter of taking travellers on a safari or even encouraging them to join coastal clean-ups and similar activities; it involves experiences that will have a lasting positive impact on both travellers and the environment.
So, who’s leading the charge here and which destinations truly embody the ethos of ecotourism?
Five key destinations
Before we get into the five countries blazing the trail for ecotourism, let us first define what exactly is an ecotourism-centric destination.
Experts point out that these destinations are defined by several key points: a focus on the conservation of vulnerable or threatened areas; the promotion of environmental sustainability through visitor education; and economic support for local communities.
Likewise, such destinations actively minimise their impact on the environment through sustainable, carbon-neutral / low-carbon operations whilst offering immersive experiences that are authentic, nature-centric, and respect local culture.
The leading destinations in this sector are as follows:
- Costa Rica The country that has long embodied the precepts of ecotourism and the one that set the gold standard for sustainable hospitality and tours takes the top spot thanks to its expertly curated national parks, exceptional biodiversity, and the long-running Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST) programme;
- Bhutan The Hermit Kingdom’s tourism sector has a high value, low volume focus that ensures its surroundings remain pristine and its traditions untainted by mass commercialisation. Also, to support initiatives related to sustainability and regenerative tourism, this Himalayan destination charges tourists a sustainable development fee of US$100 per day;
- New Zealand Regenerative tourism centred on endemic biodiversity and the preservation of indigenous Māori culture have long characterised tourism in the Land of the Long White Cloud. In more recent years, initiatives like the Tiaki Promise seek to preserve the environment for generations to come;
- Norway Known for its spellbinding scenery of fjords and mountains glittering with snow, Norway is a trailblazer when it comes to green transportation and ecotourism. Given the fragility of its native ecosystems, the Scandinavian nation has worked to prevent its tourism sector from putting undue pressure on the environment, encouraging the use of public transport powered by renewables and implementing eco-centric standards on attractions and accommodations; and
- Ecuador Home to the Galapagos Islands where Charles Darwin embarked on his studies on species evolution, this Latin American nation boasts of 26 distinctive ecosystems, all of which are actively protected by local and national authorities. The country also prides itself on extensive programmes for environmental education for both locals and travellers, ensuring that everyone understands that we are all part of one world and that we must band together to protect it for future generations.
