As people become more conscious of their impact on the planet, many are starting to make small changes to become more sustainable. For example, many people try to reduce their environmental footprint when traveling, both internationally and domestically.

Fortunately, people are increasingly interested in alternative ways to explore the world. Environmentally conscious travelers want to combine their love of travel with the environment and are ready to learn how they can contribute to the conservation of the destinations they visit. They want to be part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem.

Ecotourism has therefore become increasingly popular in recent years, with more people enjoying more environmentally friendly ways of traveling.

Sustainable tourism initiatives are those that encourage businesses to make environmentally friendly choices, limit the number of visitors to an area or region through tickets or permits, and encourage the inclusion of renewable energy in development plans. So instead of visiting places where overtourism is a problem, check out these alternative sustainable destinations that thrive on eco-friendly and sustainable practices.

Norway

Norway, like its Nordic neighbours, is a sustainability pioneer. Norway has adopted ten principles for sustainable tourism: cultural richness, physical and visual integrity of the landscape, biodiversity, clean environment and resource efficiency, and local quality of life and social values, local management and commitment, quality of tourism worker employment, local value creation, economic sustainability, competitiveness through tourism, quality of guest experience, economic sustainability, and competitiveness. 

Norway has a sustainable destination label recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). This label can be used by tour operators and other tourism industry services to demonstrate compliance with these international standards.

Finland

Finland is often overlooked in favor of its Scandinavian neighbours Sweden and Norway. However, Helsinki is a great alternative destination to popular cities such as Reykjavik, Stockholm, and Oslo. Better yet, head north to Finnish Lapland to discover the magical wilderness of a country that prides itself on sustainability.

Finland has the label “Sustainable Travel Finland” which allows trade partners in the travel industry to demonstrate compliance with sustainability regulations. Travelers should note this designation when making reservations.

Uruguay

Uruguay is a small country in South America near Argentina and Brazil. Uruguay is often overlooked due to its vast neighbours, but it's worth visiting for its beaches, historic cities, and sustainable tourism practices.

Uruguay launched a project called Uruguay Natural in 2020, which aims to encourage companies to obtain "green certification" for tourism if they meet certain criteria. Uruguay has also launched the campaign “Uruguayan by Nature'' in 2023 with the support of the Uruguayan Ministry of Tourism.

The campaign aims to encourage travelers to enjoy the country's natural beauty while making responsible travel decisions.

Botswana

Botswana is a great alternative to Kenya and South Africa, where safari tourism is booming. Botswana is also a little-known world leader in sustainable tourism.

Botswana's wildlife is at the heart of tourism sustainability initiatives. Approximately 37% of the country's area is in national parks or nature reserves that promote wildlife protection and conservation. Some safari camps donate proceeds to wildlife conservation projects. The country's ecolodges are also built to avoid disturbing wildlife and are powered by renewable energy.

Sweden

Ecotravel and ecotourism are important, especially for a country like Sweden. In fact, Euromonitor International's 2020 report ranks Sweden at the top of the Sustainable Travel Index ranking. The country has a strong reputation for its sustainability practices, and tourism authorities tout this as part of the appeal of visiting Sweden.

Clean air, clean water, and low CO2 emissions are proof of the excellent track record in environmental awareness.

The Swedish government has set a goal for 100% of Sweden's electricity to come from renewable sources and zero fossil fuels by 2045. Sweden also has the Nature's Best award, introduced in 2002 as a label for the tourism industry to identify sustainable services.