The 2025 edition beat the record number of registrations, with more than 160 projects in almost 15 countries: the winners will be announced on April 15 at the Expo Center Norte in São Paulo

The WTM Latin America 2025 Responsible Tourism Award is not only a recognition of the best practices in the sector, but also a thermometer of the progress of sustainable tourism in the region. This year, a record number of 164 projects from 14 countries were entered, reflecting the growing commitment of companies and organizations to building better tourism for generations to come.

According to Pablo Menendez, the Award’s curator, the finalist projects point to three major trends in responsible tourism: environmental sustainability, social inclusion and cultural appreciation. “There is a strong focus on biodiversity conservation and tackling climate change, as well as a growing appreciation of Indigenous and traditional communities in tourism. Collaboration in networks to strengthen responsible tourism also stands out, remembering that cooperation is essential to overcome regional barriers,” he points out.

Among the most competitive categories are “Best networking initiatives to promote responsible tourism in destinations,” with 39 projects entered, and “Best initiatives to tackle climate change and conserve biodiversity”, with 36 entries. Colombia tops the list with seven finalist projects, followed by Mexico (5), Brazil (4), Argentina (2) and Chile (2). Costa Rica and Guatemala have one finalist each, which demonstrates the geographical diversity of the award.

For Bianca Pizzolito, Event Leader at WTM Latin America, the Award reflects the sector’s commitment to building tourism that positively impacts communities, preserves cultures and protects the environment. “The record number of entries and the diversity of the finalists show that Latin America is moving forward along this path, with innovative and inspiring projects. Our aim is to give visibility to these initiatives and connect them to the market to encourage more conscious, sustainable, and transformative tourism,” he says.

The selection of the finalists was carried out by a jury made up of 19 experts from nine countries, nominated by representatives of the six partner organizations in this edition of the Award and recognized throughout Latin America. Each supporting organization appointed professionals to evaluate the projects based on criteria such as the originality of the solutions, the real impact on the communities and the potential for replicability in the travel and tourism industry.

In addition, aspects such as the guarantee of quantification of achievements, the degree of influence of the candidate among suppliers and clients, innovation proposed by the solution, sustainable management and educational opportunities related to the destination, people and the environment were analyzed. It is worth remembering that the projects that didn’t advance to the final received feedback from the jury with important inputs to improve their initiatives and increase their candidacy to compete in future editions.

Trends and challenges

The winners of the six categories of the WTM Latin America 2025 Responsible Tourism Awards will be announced at a special ceremony on April 15 at 5:15 p.m. in the Trends Theater at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo.

For Menendez, the finalist projects represent an important step in the evolution of tourism in Latin America and highlight persistent challenges, such as the need for greater institutional support and funding to expand these initiatives. “Responsible tourism in Latin America must continue to grow, especially on three fronts: strengthening environmental conservation, including local communities and developing authentic experiences based on regional culture and history,” he said. “The appreciation of Indigenous and community tourism should gain more and more ground, strengthening cultural identity and promoting more enriching travel experiences,” concludes Menendez.

For Bianca, the Responsible Tourism Award reaffirms its role as a platform for recognizing and encouraging initiatives that turn tourism into a tool for social, environmental, and economic transformation. “The finalists in this edition demonstrate that innovation and collaboration are essential to building a more sustainable and inclusive sector,” concludes the Event Leader of WTM Latin America. The finalists are:

CATEGORY 01: Best initiatives to tackle climate change and conserve biodiversity | Supporter: Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)

• Costa Magia (Mexico)
• Asociación de prosumidores agroecológicos – Agrosolidaria seccional Charalá (Colombia)
• BirdsChile (Chile)
• Bio Fábrica de Corais LTDA (Brazil)

CATEGORY 02: Best initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in tourism | Supporter: Coletivo MUDA!

• Los Sueños Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort (Costa Rica)
• Ser Turista: De La Mano Por Nuevo León (Mexico)
• Associação Marisqueiras de Aver ô Mar (Brazil)

CATEGORY 03: Best initiatives to promote socio-economic impact and peacebuilding through tourism. | Supporter: La Mano del Mono

• Dirección General Abordaje Territorial Barrio Padre Carlos Mugica (ex Villa 31). Ministerio de Desarrollo Humano y Hábitat del Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Argentina)
• Caguán Expeditions (Colombia)
• La magia está en vivirlo (Colombia)
• Rutopía (Mexico)

CATEGORY 04: Best networking initiatives to promote responsible tourism in destinations. | Supporter: Planeterra

• Mapa Turístico Colombia Artesanal – Artesanías de Colombia (Colombia)
• Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda IAP. Destino Sierra Gorda. Querétaro (Mexico)
• EcoNoronha – Noronha Socioambiental: Conexões para conservação (Brazil)
• Secretaria de Turismo de Santiago de Cali (Colombia)

CATEGORY 05: Best initiatives for Indigenous tourism and/or Traditional Communities | Supporter: World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA)

• Ecotours Boquilla, Turismo Comunitario (Colombia)
• Asociacion Civil Mbya en Turismo (Argentina)
• Aldea Maya Xa’anil Naj (Mexico)
• Lofpulli Turismo (Chile)

CATEGORY 06: Best initiatives for recovering memory and valuing historical heritage | Supporter: Asociación Colombiana de Turismo Responsable (ACOTUR)

• Corporación Turismo Cartagena de Indias (Colombia)
• Instituto Santa Cruz (Brazil)
• Cooperativa Integral Agrícola Nuevo Horizonte (Guatemala)