• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Geographical

Geographical

Official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

  • Home
  • Briefing
  • Science & Environment
  • Climate
    • Climatewatch
  • Wildlife
  • Culture
  • Geopolitics
    • Geopolitical hotspots
  • Study Geography
    • University directory
    • Masters courses
    • Course guides
      • Climate change
      • Environmental science
      • Human geography
      • Physical geography
    • University pages
      • University of Aberdeen
      • Aberystwyth University
      • Cardiff University
      • University of Chester
      • Edge Hill University
      • The University of Edinburgh
      • Oxford Brookes University
      • Queen Mary University of London
    • Geography careers
      • Charity/non-profit
      • Education & research
      • Environment
      • Finance & consulting
      • Government and Local Government
    • Applications and advice
  • Quizzes
  • Magazine
    • Issue previews
    • Subscribe
    • Manage My Subscription
    • Special Editions
    • Podcasts
    • Geographical Archive
    • Book reviews
    • Crosswords
    • Advertise with us
  • Subscribe

Top 10 Countries Leading the Way in Sustainable Tourism

12 June 2025
5 minutes

Chobe National Park, Botswana. Image: Shutterstock

From Sweden to Botswana, these destinations are setting the standard for environmentally and socially responsible travel


By Geographical Staff

The global tourism industry has long been a double-edged sword. While it can be a boon to national economies, communities in tourism hotspots often miss out on the benefits – and development frequently comes at the cost of environmental degradation. In the Americas – with the notable exception of Costa Rica – many countries are not doing enough to ensure that tourism protects key areas of biodiversity, and the number of endangered species continues to grow.

Meanwhile in Europe, which leads the world in environmental sustainability and nature preservation efforts, wages in the travel sector are below national averages. At the same time, overcrowding, seasonal peaks and the rise of holiday rentals are driving up costs in many popular destinations, resulting in growing local backlashes against visitors.

No country is perfect but, in many parts of the world, there is a rising demand for – and supply of – more sustainable forms of tourism. Using data from the Travel & Tourism Development Index, this Geo-Graphic highlights the countries where tourism is having the least environmental impact, and offering the greatest benefit to local communities and economies.

Hiking in Sweden. Image: Shutterstock

Swedish flag1. Sweden
Sweden tops the list thanks to its strong environmental regulations and widespread commitment to nature preservation. Despite growing pressures on Sámi communities caused by disruption to their nomadic lifestyle from economic development in the north of the country , Sweden’s approach to sustainable infrastructure and low emissions makes it a global leader in green tourism.

botswana flag 2. Botswana
Ranked highest in Africa, Botswana has long prioritised low-impact, high-value tourism – especially in the Okavango Delta. Its conservation-led model protects biodiversity while channelling revenue into local communities.

kenyan flag 3. Kenya
Tourism in Kenya has traditionally centred on wildlife safaris, but a growing number of community-managed conservancies – such as those led by the Maasai – are reshaping the sector, ensuring benefits go directly to Indigenous landowners.

australian flag 4. Australia
Australia’s tourism industry is bolstered by protected landscapes and a strong eco-tourism sector, particularly around its coasts and outback regions. Sustainability is supported by policies that balance visitor access with conservation.

Romania flag 5. Romania
With large tracts of old-growth forest and some of Europe’s richest biodiversity, Romania’s lower tourism volumes and increasing conservation efforts contribute to its strong sustainability score.

brazil flag 6. Brazil
Despite significant threats to Indigenous communities in the Amazon, Brazil ranks well due to its expansive protected areas and the economic impact of nature-based tourism. The challenge remains to align policy with practice on the ground.

bulgarian flag 7. Bulgaria
Bulgaria combines lower-cost travel with access to national parks, mountain areas and heritage sites. Its relative affordability and focus on regional development support more inclusive and sustainable tourism.

Swiss flag 8. Switzerland
Switzerland has the second-lowest tourism-related greenhouse gas emissions globally. This is thanks to its excellent public transport system, high environmental standards and a strong tradition of alpine conservation.

9. Chile
Chile’s impressive 37 per cent of land under protection gives it an edge in sustainable tourism. From the Atacama Desert to Patagonia, it attracts nature tourists while preserving its dramatic landscapes.

Paraguay flag 10. Paraguay
A remarkable 89 per cent of tourism jobs in Paraguay are high-wage, making it a standout for equitable economic impact. Though less well-known as a tourist destination, the country’s focus on labour quality helps it punch above its weight.

Who benefits?

Images of Indigenous people are frequently used to promote tourism in countries where they have historically faced persecution. The countries in this ranking – from Sweden, where traditional Sámi reindeer herding is threatened by green land grabs, to Brazil, where mining and cattle ranching are violently displacing Amazonian tribes – are no exception.

But there are signs of change. In some places, Indigenous-led tourism is growing. In Kenya, for instance, while the profits from wildlife safaris have historically bypassed the local Maasai tribes, initiatives such as the Nashulai Maasai Conservancy in the Maasai Mara represent a more equitable model. Community-owned and managed, they ensure that tourism benefits the original landowners.

Behind the scenes

The Travel & Tourism Development Index calculates each country’s environmental sustainability score based on a range of factors – including tourism’s contribution to national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water stress, pollution, and national protections for nature.

Socio-economic impact scores are derived from tourism’s contribution to GDP, employment, high-wage jobs and labour gender parity. Since 2019, global progress in areas such as sustainable energy use and the sector’s contribution to high-wage employment has led to an overall improvement in scores across many countries.

Bottom of the pack

Riyadh skyline. Image: Kashif Hameed/Shutterstock

Despite improvements, major challenges remain – particularly in low- and middle-income countries across Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. In these regions, tourism typically generates fewer high-wage jobs, and issues such as a lack of workers’ rights and gender inequality remain widespread.

At the very bottom of the rankings – with the lowest scores for both environmental sustainability and economic benefit – are:

  • Saudi Arabia
  • Vietnam
  • The United Arab Emirates
  • Morocco
  • Egypt

Filed Under: Briefing

Protected by Copyscape

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Geographical Magazine from just £4.99

Geographical subscriptions

Sign up to our newsletter and get the best of Geographical direct to your inbox

Popular Now

Essential summer reads: books for those who care about the planet

Essential summer reads: books for those who care about the planet

Forests from aerial view

Forests lagging behind in adapting to climate change, new study finds

Cedar Breaks International Dark Sky Park

Darkness falls, stars rise in Utah’s national parks

Solar farm

Which countries are leading the way in green energy?

The longest heatwaves in history – and how they’re getting worse

The longest heatwaves in history – and how they’re getting worse

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Geographical print magazine cover

Published in the UK since 1935, Geographical is the official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

Informative, authoritative and educational, this site’s content covers a wide range of subject areas, including geography, culture, wildlife and exploration, illustrated with superb photography.

Click Here for SUBSCRIPTION details

Want to access Geographical on your tablet or smartphone? Press the Apple, Android or PC/Mac image below to download the app for your device

Footer Apple Footer Android Footer Mac-PC

More from Geographical

  • Subscriptions
  • Get our Newsletter
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2025 · Site by Syon Media