Positive Impacts of Tourism on the Environment

If you asked random people from different countries whether tourism has negative or positive impacts on the environment, none of the answers would most likely prevail since their opinion will be based on their personal experience from travels. Tourism and environment have important, yet controversial relationship, that needs to be in a perfect balance to benefit each other.

Beautiful natural landscapes or unique flora and fauna are the main drivers of tourism into an area. But when too many tourists visit natural sites, environment and its inhabitants rather suffer from the negative impacts, which easily outweigh all the benefits due to exceeding the natural carrying capacity of a place.

Many countries around the world depend on tourism as their main industry in providing jobs in rural areas and bringing in funds that would be otherwise out of their reach. Financial resources and employment are critical for local livelihoods and security. But as more and more countries focus on expanding their tourism sites, they often encounter problems with overconsumption of their finite natural resources, pollution, and degradation. This easily spirals into undesirable situations of negative impacts on the local environment and society.

On the other hand, when the number of visitors is balanced with respect for the natural environment, tourism has great potential in supporting or even starting out new conservation projects that protect unique areas and benefit local residents.

Positive Impacts of Tourism on the Environment

Tourism can turn travelers into champions for nature and drive conservation efforts worldwide more than any other industry. When done right, it helps protect and restore the planet’s most precious ecosystems. Here is how: 

Sustainable Tourism Practices

Sustainable tourism is about making sure that the industry benefits local people and ecosystems without exhausting their resources. Sustainable tourism practices go beyond minimizing damage—they aim to create positive environmental outcomes, turning tourism into a force for good.

In practice, sustainable tourism limits the consumption of natural resources, protects biodiversity, and maintains ecological processes, all while delivering enriching experiences to visitors. It is the pathway to lasting tourism—where the beauty of natural landscapes and the integrity of local cultures are preserved for future generations.

Importance of Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is essential because tourism as a whole is one of the largest global industries, contributing about 10% of the world’s GDP and offering employment to millions of people. The industry increasingly affects the environment, culture, and socio-economic development of a country. Due to such a great reach, it is a powerful tool in facilitating change.

As we have seen with over-tourism in many iconic locations, such as Venice and Bali, an influx of visitors can push fragile ecosystems and local communities to their breaking point.

That’s why tourism as a fast-growing industry must follow the principles of sustainability in order to last long term while maintaining positive impacts for an area. In terms of environment, this means consumption of natural resources within acceptable limits, protecting biodiversity and making sure that essential ecological processes can take place, while providing a pleasant experience to visiting tourists [1].

A part of striving towards sustainability is also raising awareness about the unique natural features of an area and educating visitors about their sustainable management. This helps them to understand the rules set in place and respect differences. 

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism contributes directly or indirectly to all the 17 goals of sustainable development (SDGs) that were defined together with additional 169 SDG targets to ensure a safer future for life on Earth by 2030.

Since 2018, UNWTO has even operated an online platform dedicated to achievement of SDGs through tourism. You can visit it here: https://tourism4sdgs.org/. On the platform is a detailed description of each sustainable development goal in relation to tourism. SDGs address areas ranging from the importance of biodiversity, protection of marine ecosystems to urgent calls for sustainable production and consumption.

Following the guidelines, UNWTO has, for example, partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and launched a Global Tourism Plastics Initiative to mitigate the problem of plastic pollution in the industry.  

By working together with local businesses and tourism operators, sustainable tourism practices can lead to a cleaner future for destinations around the world.

Economic Incentives for Conservation

We have to see it this way: tourists are not just paying for an experience—they are investing in the long-term health of the environment they came to enjoy. Revenue generated from tourism can fund wildlife protection, ecosystem restoration projects, and the maintenance of biodiversity hotspots.

Africa is a prime example of a country where tourism has had a positive effect on wildlife protection. Wildlife tourism in Africa makes up around 36 percent of the tourism industry, contributing over $29 billion to the continent’s economy and providing jobs to 3.6 million people [3].

The opportunity of seeing wild animals in their natural environment is what Africa is the most known for. This form of tourism reduces poverty and helps to empower women directly by giving them jobs, but even indirectly by allocating funds to build infrastructure – schools, hospitals.

Africa, Asia, South America, and the South Pacific focus more and more on the value of their wild natural areas. With the growth of tourism, even new national and wildlife parks that connect sustainable tourism with biodiversity preservation.

For example, iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa offers amazing experiences for tourists who can choose between diving, snorkeling, kayaking or horseback riding in a landscape of 25,000 years old coastal dunes and swamp forests, while protecting the area’s sensitive ecosystems and unique species. The coastline is Africa’s only remaining nesting place of Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles [4].

Tourism as a Driver for Environmental Education

Beautiful landscapes, animals in their natural environment, exotic ecosystems attract visitors from around the world. They are the primary reason why people travel. To get rest from their daily blues and experience ultimate relaxation from the connection with the natural world. 

Tourism is the best tool to raise awareness of environmental values.

You learn the best when you do get to experience something directly, when you see it, touch it, and when you witness what threatens to destroy it. Personal visit of natural areas introduces you to the values they have for life. It makes you care about them, since you get to enjoy their special feeling. And memories you will have will encourage you to be environmentally-conscious in travel and personal life. 

In January 2021, alarming pictures of the most touristy beaches in Bali buried in plastic waste that washed up on the shore due to the monsoon weather, appeared on social media of travelers and in the news [2]. The images have drawn global attention and created a bad rep for single-use plastic items, making us (consumers) more aware of the true impact.

Another great example of this in action is Galápagos Islands, where strict tourism rules are in place to protect the fragile ecosystems. Tourists visiting the islands are not just told about conservation efforts—they experience them throughout their trip. 

Guides take the time to explain why certain behaviors are necessary, like not touching wildlife or sticking to designated trails, and how these small actions contribute to the protection of the area’s unique biodiversity.

Tourism for Skills Learning

This is a special side of tourism but plays also an important role in positive impacts of tourism on the environment. Visitors do not have to be drawn to places just for entertainment or relaxation, they may come with the primary mission of learning a new skill or gaining certain knowledge. Tourists come to see a special feature in an area and often pay for their stay, for food, or training, which is a nice way to support the work they came to admire. Additionally, they may also put the new knowledge to use for their own projects.   

One nice example of this form of tourism could be visiting a permaculture farm with the purpose to learn about the practices applied on the farm and exchange ideas on what might work at home. Another example, that could inspire many, is spending time on edible forest farms, learning about planting diversity of low maintenance plants on your piece of land. Or visiting villages excelling in agroforestry farming practices which have allowed them to harvest variety of products from their lands, while protecting sensitive mountainous environments, where intensive farming would not be an option.   

Ecotourism programs play an essential role in educating tourists about sustainable practices as well. For instance, programs in places like Costa Rica and Kenya not only provide visitors with an amazing experience of nature but also include educational sessions on conservation.

These programs aim to change the way people think about the environment by showing how human actions can support or harm the natural world. Through guided tours and workshops, ecotourism often equips tourists with practical knowledge that they can implement even in their daily lives. 

Biodiversity Preservation through Protected Areas

Tourism has been a driving force behind the creation of national parks, marine reserves, and protected areas that are now some of the world’s greatest treasures. People travel far to experience the beauty of untouched nature, and this demand often leads to governments and communities setting aside land or sea to preserve these places for future generations. 

By visiting these areas, tourists directly help fund their protection, from maintaining trails and wildlife monitoring to community conservation projects.

Protected areas do much more than offer stunning landscapes. They play a critical role in keeping biodiversity intact by giving endangered species and fragile habitats a safe space to thrive. 

Whether it’s the lush rainforests, coral reefs, or arid savannas, these protected zones ensure that wildlife can live without being disturbed by activities like construction or pollution. In marine reserves, for example, the quiet waters allow coral reefs to recover and offer a sanctuary for species like sea turtles and tropical fish that are otherwise under threat from overfishing and climate change.

Take Costa Rica, for instance. This small country has become famous for its commitment to conservation. Thanks to tourism, Costa Rica has been able to protect vast stretches of its rainforests, which are home to an incredible variety of wildlife, from vibrant birds to elusive jaguars. 

The money tourists spend visiting these areas goes straight back into maintaining the parks, funding research, and training park rangers—who work tirelessly to keep the ecosystems healthy and safe.

Another great example is Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This iconic site attracts millions of visitors each year, and much of the revenue generated helps fund reef conservation projects. 

Tourists learn about the delicate balance of the reef ecosystem and contribute to efforts aimed at protecting its vibrant marine life.

Restoration and Reforestation Initiatives

Tourism isn’t just about enjoying beautiful landscapes—it can also be a catalyst for bringing them back to life. More and more, we are seeing tourism initiatives that go beyond just protecting what’s left and focus on restoring what’s been lost. 

Visitors are getting involved in reforestation and habitat restoration projects as part of their travel experience. These efforts help repair damaged ecosystems, bringing forests back to life and creating homes for wildlife that have been displaced.

Take Iceland, for example. The country has been actively engaging tourists in tree-planting programs to help combat deforestation. Tourists are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and plant native trees and directly contribute to the restoration of Iceland’s once-vast forests. 

There is also a growing trend of carbon offset programs in tourism. With travel contributing to carbon emissions, some eco-conscious tourism companies are now offering visitors the option to offset their carbon footprint. These programs often involve planting trees, funding renewable energy projects, or supporting other initiatives that absorb or reduce carbon emissions. 

One great example is New Zealand, where tourists can participate in carbon offset programs by supporting native forest restoration projects. Through partnerships with local conservation organizations, travelers can donate towards planting trees in areas that have been impacted by deforestation. These reforestation efforts help rebuild native habitats for endangered species while also absorbing carbon emissions from flights and transportation.

In Kenya, several safari tour operators offer carbon offset options that directly fund wildlife habitat restoration projects. Visitors can contribute to initiatives that replant trees in areas suffering from deforestation, particularly around key wildlife corridors. These programs also help to restore critical habitats for elephants, lions, and other iconic African species.

Improvement of Local Infrastructure

Tourism, especially eco-tourism, has been a major player in pushing for better infrastructure in many destinations. With more travelers seeking environmentally responsible options, there has been a noticeable shift towards developing eco-friendly infrastructure that minimizes environmental impacts. 

This includes the rise of eco-lodges, which are designed with sustainability in mind. These accommodations are often built using local, natural materials and are carefully placed to avoid disturbing the surrounding environment. They also emphasize resource conservation, from using rainwater harvesting systems to installing energy-efficient appliances.

Another key area where tourism has influenced local infrastructure is in waste management. In regions with high tourist traffic, managing waste responsibly has become a priority. For example, Palau has developed innovative waste reduction programs in response to tourism growth. 

The island nation has introduced strict policies to minimize plastic waste, and many hotels and tour operators actively encourage visitors to reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

When it comes to powering tourist destinations, more and more places are turning to renewable energy to meet their needs. For instance, many eco-lodges in Patagonia have adopted solar panels to generate electricity. Thanks to solar power availability, they can prosper even when off the grid and reduce their carbon footprint. 

Wildlife Rehabilitation and Rescue Programs

Countries begin to realize that their rare and endemic species are their symbol in the eyes of foreign visitors who are often attracted to the place because of them. Wild animals, virgin forests and a colorful palette of exotic plants are becoming an unusual sight in an economically developed world. The remaining spots that are still a home to this disappearing world are often turn to nature reserves and protected areas. These measures guarantee better safety for endangered species that inhabit them.

Virunga National Park in East Africa has a story of conservation success to tell, even despite years of civil unrest and war in the surrounding areas, it has been declared an ecological pillar for the entire East and Central African biodiversity, having the largest concentration of birds and reptiles over other protected areas [5].

Thanks to the initiative of the World Wildlife Fund and United Nations, the park has endured hard years and granted protection to endangered mountain gorillas, who were almost driven to extinction by human encroachment into their already limited habitat. Thanks to these extraordinary efforts and persistence, gorillas from the Virunga recovered and their number rose from 480 to over 600 [6]. The park is one of the most attractive tourist destinations, where you can see gorillas, chimpanzees, and many other iconic animals.

Prevention of Illegal Trade and Exploitation

Tourism brings new opportunities even to most remote places. The growing interest of tourists in visiting places where people live in connection with nature and animals gives chance to locals to sustain their families far from urban areas. In many cases, local communities quickly realize the need to protect what they have in order to attract tourists, as the stream of income from tourism is long-term and more advantageous than one-time sales of finite resources or poached animals.

A glimmer of hope sparked by the vision of attracting tourists takes place in two villages in Nepal that are known for being a transit points for illegal trade in pangolin meat and scales to Tibet and India.

The villages have joined a community-based pangolin conservation and education project. The goal of the project is to discourage local poachers from selling scales of pangolins to illegal traders, and thus interrupt the illegal trade pathway while protecting endangered pangolins. Participants of the project are also trained to help with long-term monitoring of pangolin population (species ecology, identification of threats and distribution).        

Community Involvement in Conservation Efforts

One in ten jobs worldwide are directly or indirectly in the tourism industry. Tourism creates decent work opportunities and economic growth even in rural or remote areas. Tourism employs women and is often the first job experience of young people. Money from tourism then often goes into improving local infrastructure, and sustainable management and protection of natural wonders that attract visitors.

Better infrastructure and services have a positive impact on the environment. They revolve around consumption of resources and their management. Modern infrastructure for wastewater cleaning saves water and promotes more efficient use of it. Waste management facilities focus on recycling materials rather than just dumping waste into the sea or landfills.

Tourism also directly helps to fund conservation activities of national parks or other nature and wildlife preservation projects. Visitors are usually asked to pay entrance fees or a small tax that is meant to support the project.

In many cases, local communities play a vital role in these conservation efforts. Community-led initiatives often complement tourism-driven funding by involving residents in managing natural resources and protecting biodiversity. By actively participating in sustainable practices, locals not only safeguard their environment but also secure their own livelihoods through eco-tourism. 

One notable example is Namibia, where community-based conservancies work hand-in-hand with tourism to preserve wildlife and habitats, while creating employment opportunities for local people. These programs empower communities to be stakeholders in conservation, ensuring long-term benefits for both people and the environment.

Costa Rica has one of the most successful rainforest conservation strategies, which enables the country to protect and care for its incredibly biodiversity-rich rainforests, while at the same time generating income from tourism. 

A part of this income goes back to the rainforest conservation maintenance, research, and professional training of park guards. The rest sustains the regional economy and creates balanced life opportunities for locals.

Adoption of Sustainable Practices and New Legislation

We have partially tapped into this aspect already in the previous point. It is closely linked. More funds available to a region mean better possibilities to improve infrastructure and services. Modernization of infrastructure goes hand in hand with a transition to sustainable technologies and seeking of long-term solutions that will benefit people and the local environment.

Many travelers care about their impact on the environment. They are willing to pay for environmentally friendly services and accommodation when visiting a new place. Many destinations already follow the suit and are changing their approach to tourism by considering their environmental impact in their management.

Additionally, governments also respond to this pressure and often enforce regulations to further protect local natural resources by adopting sustainable practices in the industry.

You can see this trend in increasing numbers of eco-tourism lodges around the world; or recycling bins placed in public areas to collect different materials for more efficient waste management; in water saving measures and recommendations adopted by accommodation providers; or even large-scale renewable energy projects that power whole regions.

Several studies highlighted the benefits of renewable energy for maintaining healthy environment during the seasonal influx of tourists to island destinations. For example, a study of Mediterranean islands sees renewable energy projects as a tool to provide sufficient energy to residents and tourists during the periods of increased demand, while protecting already fragile and limited resources islands have.

Tourism and the Environment Could Go Well Together

The success of tourism relies on good infrastructure and decent quality of services. The industry therefore helps the community development and brings new sources of inspiration and motivation for protection of biodiversity rich natural areas, wildlife, or whole ecosystems.

Tourism can have a great transformative power to improve wellbeing of us all. When you head out on your first adventures, keep that in mind and set a good example. Show your support to environmentally meaningful projects, encourage those who are involved in them and be mindful of your impact.    

Many new conservation projects raise hope of local people in being able to sustain their families, while taking care of their home, of their legacy, of a place shaped by the nurturing hands of their ancestors. They hope that their effort will be appreciated and rewarded by respectful visitors.