WTM Latin America has announced a new category for the 2026 Responsible Tourism Award, aimed exclusively at destinations that already implement concrete environmental and social regeneration policies. This is the Best Regenerative Tourism Initiatives category, which joins the six traditional categories of recent years. The new category is in line with the central theme of WTM Latin America, which invites the sector to move from a mindset of “doing less harm” to actions aimed at “doing more good.”
“In practice, this means going beyond impact mitigation, working to restore ecosystems, revitalize local economies, creating fairer relationships with host communities, and promoting value chains that leave tangible benefits in the territory,” argues Pablo Menendez, international consultant in sustainable tourism and curator of the award alongside Aline Bispo, tourism expert and member of the technical leadership of Rede BATUC – Community Tourism in Bahia.
As in previous editions, the evaluation process will be thoroughly careful, with applications assessed based on clear criteria that include measurable results, originality, and impact on the local community, among others. “It is not a competition to see who submits the most documents, but who can demonstrate consistency, clarity, and real evidence of what they are doing,” Aline emphasizes.
Registration for the Responsible Tourism Award is now open and the finalists are expected to be announced in February 2026. The award ceremony is confirmed for the evening of April 15 at the Transformation Theater, as part of the WTM Latin America program at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo.
WTM Latin America will take place between April 14 and 16, 2026, at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo. Applications for the Responsible Tourism Award can be made in Portuguese, English, or Spanish.