At a time when climate anxiety is soaring and global ecosystems are precarious, some destinations have emerged as examples of leadership and effectiveness in conservation-minded travel.
From the awe-inspiring biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands to the peaceful wilds of Bhutan, from Costa Rica’s lush rainforests to the sweeping untouched landscapes of New Zealand, these destinations are not just paradises for travelers but also champions of environmental preservation.
And as the travel industry faces heightened scrutiny over its ecological footprint, these destinations showcase how tourism can coexist harmoniously with conservation efforts. For travel advisors, promoting these destinations isn't just about offering picturesque, adventure-filled getaways, it’s also about supporting conservation with meaningful impact.
Conservation-Minded Travel Isn’t Oxymoronic
Tourism and conservation appear to be inherently at odds: Preserving a delicate area often means avoiding it, but avoidance thwarts the tourism dollars that support those destinations. How can advisors reconcile this conflict?
“The solution to over-tourism is not to stop tourism to that destination — the answer, in many cases, is to visit the destination differently,” said Lauren Raps, co-founder of Singapore-based, eco-conscious travel company Alchemist Travel. “Partake in experiences that are more authentic to the region and are more respectful of that culture,” she said.
It’s also important to help clients understand why certain rules — and fees — exist. “Accept that some destinations, like Venice or Bhutan, will charge a fee in order to go to that destination,” she said. “When countries or cities begin to levy a visa fee or a tourist tax, it's only to better or protect their community and their land.”
Todd Smith is the president and founder of AdventureSmith Explorations, which has specialized in expedition cruises and wilderness adventures for 20 years, and he agrees that travel has the potential for positive impact. “I’ve always believed in the transformative power of travel and the role that the travel industry and travelers themselves have in conservation,” he said. “When a traveler is in awe of a destination or travel experience, they are open to a deeper understanding and broader perspective. Thus, the traveler becomes an advocate for the destination and perhaps changes their mindset and behavior going forward.”
For this reason, he believes that “travel is a more powerful tool for conservation than staying home” when undertaken with sustainable goals in mind, such as empowering local communities, generating revenue for local people and conserving the environment.
Here are four of the places leading by example.
Costa Rica
Often called one of the world’s most sustainable travel destinations, Costa Rica has the largest percentage of protected area in the world; about 30% of its territory is protected natural land.
Further, Costa Rica produces nearly 93% of its electricity from renewable resources. And many of its tours and lodging options are environmentally friendly, so travelers have plenty of sustainable options for exploring this rich natural environment — which, despite its size, holds 5% of the world’s land-based biodiversity and 3.5% of its marine life.
“Costa Rica has been literally, and figuratively, a green country [since] way before ‘sustainability’ was a word people associated with travel,” Raps said. “The country’s tourism effort to preserve their environment while becoming such a sought-after destination was extremely well balanced.”
She credits this country with inventing the eco-lodge, “and now with properties like Origins or Hacienda AltaGracia, they have elevated the concept, showing that you can have the ultimate luxurious hotel stay in a sustainable manner.”
Advisor Alexandra Hepworth of Luxury Travel by Alexandra notes that the country’s adherence to sustainable practices is fully authentic. “The country’s tagline, ‘pura vida,’ is evident wherever you go,” she said. “The people live and breathe this, and it is evident that they are very conscious of their beautiful country and wanting to preserve it.”
She notes that the popular tourist areas of Guanacaste and Arenal have strict rules in place to manage tourism development projects and the construction of new hotels. “Careful consideration is taken in terms of location of the development, as well as what can and cannot be removed from the site,” she said. “Projects are built around the natural tree population instead of those trees being chopped down.”
Further, she said, “around Arenal, you will see many accommodations that are situated within their surroundings and have been carefully placed to protect the environment around them — not the other way around.”
New Zealand
Nearly one-third of New Zealand comprises protected national parks, with many options available for eco-tours and lodging. Officially, its tourism authority promotes the “Tiaki promise” (from the verb meaning to preserve), a commitment of care for New Zealand for present as well as future generations.
New Zealand has strict government regulations surrounding marine life, particularly dolphins and whales with calves, resulting in fines for those who get too close. And strict measures also are in place surrounding outdoor activities, such as only allowing hiking in certain areas in order to keep flora safe from disease.
Hepworth adds that New Zealand’s conservation efforts apply not just to the natural environment but to the culture as well. “New Zealand’s indigenous Maori people have a rich and unique culture that visitors should experience during their time in New Zealand,” she said. “The Maori people are completely integrated into everyday society — this is something very special about New Zealand: how the country preserves and embraces its heritage.”
Galápagos Islands
In 1978, the Galápagos Islands became the first site inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List; in 2001, the site was further expanded to include the Galápagos Marine Reserve. Currently, 97% of the total land is national park territory. Restrictions manage and curb the number of tourists in order to protect the biodiversity, which includes more than 20% of marine species found nowhere else on Earth.
Smith serves on the board of the International Galápagos Tour Operator Association. “The Galápagos Islands have prioritized conservation since the National Park was founded in 1959,” he said. “With an area covering more than 3,000 square miles with 19 major islands and hundreds of endemic species, there is always more to do.”
More meaningful progress came in February 2024, when the Galápagos National Park announced it would double the entrance fee from $100 to $200 per adult, beginning in August 2024. “Fees will fund much-needed conservation efforts, including implementing effective biosecurity protocols, maintaining complex trail systems, patrolling the vast Galápagos Marine Reserve from illegal international fishing and combating potentially catastrophic invasive species,” Smith said.
Travelers who book their Galápagos vacation with his company also support conservation with a contribution to the Galápagos Traveler Conservation Fund, which awards conservation grants to local nonprofits focused on environmental education for local youth and libraries, green turtle research, the reintroduction of endemic finches and more.
“When traveling to the Galápagos, know that your park entrance fee helps support conservation, and book your trip with a reputable company committed to sustainable tourism,” Smith said.
Bhutan
This small country is also one of the least visited, and it has one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. To preserve it, hunting and fishing are illegal in most of Bhutan. The country imposed a tourist tax to protect the local environment and people. And with a mandate from the government that at least 60% of its land be kept forested, it’s the first carbon-negative country in the world.
“Travel to Bhutan is inherently sustainable thanks to the measures that their leadership has placed to protect the country from over-tourism, or for tourism to cause any damage to its environment,” said Raps. “And with hotels, such as Aman, using existing farmhouses in their architecture and showcasing authentic experiences to their guests, it is helping to conserve Bhutan’s rich arts and culture.”
For travel advisors, selling destinations that support conservation isn’t just about paying environmental lip service: It’s an opportunity to create unforgettable journeys that travelers can feel good about, too.
Originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of The Compass magazine
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