The sixth edition of the award debuts a category dedicated to regenerative tourism, in line with the theme of the 2026 event, and announces the arrival of two new institutional allies.
WTM Latin America opens registration for the 2026 Responsible Tourism Award on Wednesday, December 3rd. Consolidated as an important showcase for transformative initiatives in the travel sector, the award reaches its sixth edition reinforcing the proposal to value projects that combine purpose, innovation and positive impact on communities, ecosystems and destinations in the region. Registration of initiatives must be done directly through the event’s official website.
The six categories from the previous year have been maintained and will award projects related to the themes of climate change, diversity and inclusion, socioeconomic impact, networking, indigenous tourism and appreciation of historical heritage. The main novelty of this edition is the creation of a special category, exclusive to WTM Latin America 2026, dedicated to regenerative tourism. Aimed at destination managers who are already implementing concrete environmental and social recovery policies, this unprecedented category will have open registration soon.
Pablo Menendez, a sustainable tourism consultant who works in several countries, and Aline Bispo, a tourism expert and part of the technical leadership of the BATUC Network – Community Tourism of Bahia, curators of the award, emphasize that the central purpose of this edition is to encourage practices that not only reduce negative impacts, but also contribute to regenerating ecosystems, strengthening communities and inspiring systemic transformations in the tourism sector.
“Regenerative tourism invites us to think beyond ‘doing less harm’ and move towards ‘doing more good’,” points out Aline. “We want to recognize projects that demonstrate that it is possible to put this into practice through initiatives that restore vitality, stimulate collaboration and show that tourism can be an active force for social and environmental renewal,” adds the curator.
In the experts’ view, this means that companies, professionals and destinations must go beyond mitigating impacts. “It is necessary to restore ecosystems, revitalize local economies, create fairer relationships with host communities, and foster value chains that leave tangible benefits in the territories,” details Menendez. “It is a movement of co-creating solutions with communities, regenerating degraded natural areas, strengthening traditional cultures, and adopting management models that prioritize collective well-being. It’s not just technique, but a change of mindset,” adds Aline.
Solid, inspiring projects capable of generating real change
Experts highlight that the improvement in the quality of the proposals submitted last year should be maintained, which is one of the clearest signs of the consolidation of responsible tourism in Latin America. “We have noticed not only an increase in the number of projects, but, mainly, in the commitment to the solutions presented,” says Menendez.
This year’s edition also marks the arrival of a new institutional partner — the Yuluca–GSTC Alliance (Global Sustainable Tourism Council), which joins partners from previous years — Adventure Travel Association, Muda! Brazilian Collective for Responsible Tourism, La Mano del Mono, Planeterra and Winta. “The new partners bring even more technical rigor and diversity of perspectives, something essential to recognizing truly transformative projects in Latin America,” explains Aline.
The evaluation of applications will be based on criteria such as measurable results, impact on the local community, sustainability of management, originality, ability to influence suppliers and visitors, and quality of the experience offered. “The form is the heart of the process. It’s not about who sends the most documents, but about who can demonstrate coherence, clarity, and real evidence of what they are doing,” reinforces Menendez.
The curators add that the award is also an opportunity for recognition and emphasize that the most perfect projects are not always the most valuable. “We want to hear real stories that show concrete results and genuine links with the communities,” says Aline, noting that each application helps to paint an increasingly accurate picture of how Latin America is reinventing responsible tourism.
The organization has brought forward the registration schedule, ensuring that the list of finalists will be released a month earlier than in 2025. This decision should enable a large number of representatives from the selected projects to participate in the awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on the evening of April 15 at Expo Center Norte.
The Transformation Theater, the venue for the awards ceremony, will also host nine panels dedicated to responsible tourism, consolidating WTM Latin America as the event with the largest volume of content on the subject in the region. The award is part of a larger movement that seeks to promote qualified discussions, generate connections and encourage inspiring practices,” concludes Menendez.
All finalists will have enhanced visibility at the event and on WTM’s official channels, something that historically opens doors to new partnerships, investments, and opportunities. For Bianca Pizzolito, director of WTM Latin America, the award represents more than recognition: it is an instrument of transformation. “Our role is to inspire the sector to act with awareness and purpose, showing that tourism can be a force capable of caring for people, places, and the future we share,” she defines.