Despite its obvious appeal, not many people travel to Bhutan, but it’s not for want of trying. The government regulates tourism and caps numbers with a minimum daily package rate. That means fewer – but higher-spending – visitors who are essentially helping the country’s conservation efforts just by visiting. Bhutan is also one of the few carbon-negative countries in the world.
Botswana is one of the most convenient locations to spot the Big Five, but local authorities and the tourism board have made it easy to safari sustainably. The Botswana Ecotourism Certification System comprises 240 camps and lodges. Each of these are minimising the negative impacts of tourism and maximises the involvement of local communities and conservation. There are dozens of safari tour operators investing in community-based opportunities to help local villages thrive. For instance, Great Plains Safari uses a Tesla solar battery system to power the camp and bio-digesters to convert vegetable peelings into methane cooking gas, all while conserving nearly one million acres of land for Africa’s wildlife.
The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa, best known for its scenic lagoons, golden beaches and year-round sunshine. For a few years, it became popular (and dependent) on the charter flight brigade seeking out warmer winter climes. But post-pandemic, the country has started developing alternatives to all-inclusive beach getaways. The Ninki Nanka Trail is an excellent example; the trail aims to draw visitors from the golden coast to discover rural communities along the River Gambia.
Described as a ‘wilderness arc in the heart of Europe’, the Southern Carpathians encompasses around one million hectares of wild rivers, forests and vegetation. It’s home to a rich variety of wildlife – wold, lynx, brown bear, wild cats – but numbers have dropped in recent decades due to heavy hunting. Thankfully, conservation measures are now well underway to bring the region back to its former glory.
As the most biodiverse country in the world, it’s little wonder why Costa Rica ranks on so many people’s bucket lists. They’ve mastered the art of sustainable tourism here too. The CST (Certification for Sustainable Tourism) framework promotes sustainable tourism practices across the entire tourism industry in Costa Rica, from transportation and tours to dining and digs. Ecolodges abound, each specifically designed to minimise the impact on the surrounding areas.
Slovenia is green, in every sense of the world. More than 13% of the entire territory is protected parkland, 35% of it is a Natura 2000 designated Special Area of Conservation and 60% of the country is covered in greenery. Even Ljubljana, the country’s capital, is going above and beyond. It was the first capital city in the EU to take part in the zero-waste program, became European Green Capital in 2016 and introduced a huge no-car zone in the centre of town last year.
Set in the Atlantic Ocean between Portugal and New York, this wild and remote archipelago was the first region in Portugal to become a certified sustainable tourism destination. The Azores government, in partnership with local communities and the tourism industry, has pledged to preserve its natural landscapes, marine ecosystems and rich culture. These proactive measures range from renewable geothermal energy to creating more protected areas.
8. Scotland – United Kingdom
Scotland has been doing its bit for the planet for decades, but COP 26 put the spotlight on the region. Visit Scotland has been promoting eco, green and environmentally-friendly travel for decades. If you want to take it one step further, you can dedicate your holiday to looking after the local landscape on a volunteering holiday too. Forestry Land Scotland gives visitors the chance to help build mountain bike trails, while at Wild Oysters you can help protect the local waters.
South America’s second-smallest country has a lot to say for itself when it comes to environmental innovation. Since 2016, over 95% of the country has been supplied by renewable energy sources. Montevideo’s international airport has its own solar panels that provide the airport with its own supply of electricity. The country’s surrounding waters have been protected since 2013 and they’re now teeming with whales and dolphins too.
Estonia has a bit of a head start when it comes to eco-tourism, with nearly 70% of the country covered by forests and bogs. It means that, as well as clean air, visitors are never too far away from the wilderness. A whopping seven regions from across the country made it into the Sustainable Top 100 Destinations competitions too: Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, Pärnu, Rakvere and Tartu, Järva County and Lahemaa National Park. The country’s colourful capital Tallinn is also the European Green Capital for 2023.
11. Galapagos Islands – Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands is a biodiversity hotspot, beloved for staggering wildlife below the surface and on dry land. It’s home to nearly 3,000 marine species, as well as the largest biomass of sharks on the planet. But that makes it popular too. Recently, local authorities have introduced measures to limit the impact of tourism on the island, such as capping the size of boats and investing in renewable energy. Conscious community tourism has become more of a focus too.
Colorado has always been a popular spot for outdoor adventures, but in the past few years, it’s really come into its own as an eco-friendly haven. Denver, Colorado’s charismatic capital city, is on track to reach its goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2023 and it’s recently earned the highly coveted LEED for Cities Platinum Certification. The city is also aiming to introduce 125-miles of new bike lanes by 2023.
Billed as the ‘Amazon of Europe’, this newly declared Unesco biosphere sprawls across a hefty 930,000 hectares. It’s the world’s first five-country Biosphere Reserve (TBR MDD), spread across Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia. The biosphere protects the largest semi-natural river and floodplain ecosystem in Central Europe along the Mura, Drava and Danube Rivers.
New Caledonia is the archetypal tropical paradise – sparkling turquoise waters, glorious stretches of unspoilt beaches and warm hospitality. But its lagoons, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are what really sets this island apart. It’s one of the world’s most extensive reef systems, packed with over 9,000 marine species. Local authorities are committed to preserving this delicate ecosystem too. In 2014, the government created the 500,000-square. mile Coral Sea Natural Park.
Suriname has a carbon negative economy thanks largely to the vast rainforest that covers 93% of the country. In fact, Suriname has one of the largest protected areas of rainforest in the world – the Central Suriname Nature Reserve UNESCO World Heritage Site. This rainforest covers the southern four-fifths of the country. The forest contains more than 1000 species of trees and hosts a great diversity of flora and fauna including many protected animals, for instance, the giant river otter, the giant armadillo and jaguars.
This tiny Pacific island nation is made up of 340 lush green islands fringed by wildlife-rich turquoise waters. But while it might be small, there’s nothing modest about its sustainability goals. The ‘Palau Pledge’ is the world’s first mandatory visitor eco-pledge. Tourists need to sign the pledge promising to act as good environmental stewards during their trip. They risk fines if found engaging in activities like feeding fish or stepping on coral too.
Jordan’s largest nature reserve covers some 320 square kilometres of mountains and Wadis along the Great Rift Valley. It’s home to over 700 plant species, 190 bird species, 37 mammal species and 36 reptile species. The Dana Village area, which overlooks the Wadi Dana, has been occupied since 4,000 BC, though many are now moving in search of schools, jobs and housing. Thanks to a trailblazing ecotourism initiative, things are changing. The Feynan Ecolodge, situated on a former copper mining research camp, has played a big part.
Nicknamed the ‘Eco Island’, sustainability is built into the story of Gozo. Unlike its sister island Malta, Gozo has a solid track record of green initiatives designed to retain the island’s awe-inspiring landscapes and authenticity. The local government has implemented initiatives such as solar panel water heating, water-saving and rainwater harvesting schemes and a wastewater treatment plant.
Patagonia is home to some of the world’s most diverse landscapes and pristine wilderness. To keep it that way, there are now dozens of local tour operators, accommodation providers and eateries dedicated to preserving local landscapes and communities. Take the award-winning tour operator Cascada Expediciones, which offers soft-adventure trips throughout the region. They recently opened the world’s first geodesic dome hotel. Visitors are encouraged to get involved with local initiatives too.
Mafia Island Marine Park stretches across 822 sq. km of protected waters, making it the largest marine protected area in the Indian Ocean. Its unique coral reef, mangrove and marine channel ecosystems are teeming with fish species, including whale sharks. Conservation and tourism happily co-exist here, since the local communities depend on the park’s marine resources for their livelihoods. It’s all about a slower, more immersive, local model of tourism on the island.
