From the Himalayas to the savannahs and tropical rainforests, Nepal, Kenya and Costa Rica are pioneering eco‑tourism with unique strategies that elevate both conservation and community engagement. In Nepal, a surge in project‑led homestays and low‑impact treks has empowered rural villagers, especially women, to earn directly from visitors while preserving cultural heritage, ridging socio‑economic uplift and environmental care. Kenya, with its timeless safaris and the Maasai Mara, fosters wildlife protection through eco‑certified lodges, community conservancies, and revenue‑sharing models, empowering local Maasai tribes while safeguarding biodiversity .
Costa Rica stands out as a global exemplar: more than 28% of its land is under protection, powered 99% by renewable energy and pioneer of the “Bandera Azul” clean‑beach programme. Its voluntary sustainable‑tourism certification incentivises operators to uphold energy, water and waste standards, creating a market where travellers can trust eco‑credentials. The Camino de Costa Rica, a 280 km hike across cloud forests, volcanoes, indigenous territories and coffee regions, is designed to unite conservation, cultural exchange and rural development, involving local guides and community‑led logistics.
Despite these advances, each country grapples with challenges. Nepal’s infrastructure limitations, roads and transport, restrict access and sustainable volume management . Kenya faces concerns over balancing revenue growth with wildlife disturbance and human-animal conflicts. In Costa Rica, mass tourism has strained popular parks like Manuel Antonio, leading to habitat degradation and increased management pressure . Though tourist numbers dipped during COVID‑19, Monteverde’s conservation funding shake‑up underscored its reliance on eco‑tourism, prompting local hiring and community fundraising to bridge the gap.
For the international travel and tourism sector, the key lesson is clear: scale must be matched with sustainable design. Emerging eco‑destinations must build community‑centred supply chains, enforce capacity controls, obtain credible certification, and invest in infrastructure that respects ecosystems. By prioritising conservation and local livelihoods over volume, Nepal, Kenya and Costa Rica show that sustainability isn’t just a marketing tag – it’s an investment in long‑term resilience and visitor satisfaction. These models offer actionable frameworks for other destinations eager to lead in eco‑conscious travel.
