What is responsible tourism and why does it matter?

Last updated: 8 October 2026

Responsible tourism is a term we hear thrown about a lot these days, but what does it actually mean to be a responsible tourist? Who needs to be ‘responsible’ and why does responsible tourism matter?

Tourism industry stakeholders and tourists increasingly recognise the importance of social and corporate responsibility. However, while most people are familiar with the term ‘responsible tourism’, many do not know exactly what it involves. This article explains what responsible tourism is, how it differs from sustainable tourism, why it matters and what it looks like in practice.

What is responsible tourism?

In recent years there has been a clear shift away from the desire to embark on a traditional package holiday, which focusses on the concept of sun, sea and sand towards more experiential travel. Nowadays, many consumers are in search of holidays that provide them with more than two weeks on the beach, and instead are seeking deeper immersive experiences, where there is a greater focus on sustainability. This is coupled with a general trend towards more sustainable living and a greater awareness of the impacts of people’s actions on society and the natural environment.

In essence, responsible tourism is tourism that exhibits responsible behaviour, both in terms of the tourist and their individual actions, but also in terms of the industry and how the tourism provision is managed. Responsible tourism has become an established area of tourism research and practice and a household term, however the term is somewhat subjective and poorly understood in some contexts.

Video: What is responsible tourism?

Responsible tourism definition

The definition of responsible tourism, both in theory and practice, has been the subject of debate for many years. The problem lies with the inherent subjectivity surrounding the term responsible- what one person may think is ‘responsible behaviour’, another may not.

Whilst many academics and industry practitioners have attempted to define the term responsible tourism, the most referenced source remains the Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism. The 2002 Cape Town Declaration characterises responsible tourism in terms of the following:

• minimising impacts
• generating economic benefits for host communities
• involving local people in decision making
• conserving natural and cultural heritage
• providing meaningful connections between tourists and local people
• being accessible and culturally sensitive

In other words, tourism should encompass aspects of the above in order to be considered ‘responsible’.

What is the difference between responsible tourism and sustainable tourism?

Although the term responsible tourism does share much in common with sustainable tourism, ecotourism, ethical tourism and other related forms of socially-conscious tourism, it is NOT the same. This can be quite confusing because oftentimes the terms sustainable tourism and responsible tourism are used interchangeably, but they shouldn’t be.

As explained in detail in this article on sustainable tourism, there are three pillars to sustainable tourism- the environment, society and the economy. The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism, now UN Tourism) states that sustainable tourism should:

1. Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
2. Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
3. Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation. 

Whilst there are clear aims of sustainable tourism, when it comes to responsible tourism the definition is a bit more loose, without such transparent prerequisites and instead relying on the premise of simply ‘being responsible’. In other words, responsible tourism will often encompass the elements noted above, but these are not essential.

The growth of responsible tourism

The concept of responsible tourism may be in the public mind more now than ever before, but it isn’t new. The vision of a more responsible form of tourism was discussed at length back in the 1980s and became an important element within the fast emerging concept of sustainable tourism. Decades ago it was noted that the industry would have to adopt more environmentally orientated and socially responsible practices, yet this has only really become prominent in recent years.

Consumer interest in responsible travel continues to grow. In Booking.com’s 2026 Travel and Sustainability Report, based on a survey of 32,500 travellers in 35 markets, 85% of travellers said that sustainable travel is important to them. Travellers are also changing their behaviour: 43% said they planned to avoid overcrowded destinations and 42% intended to travel outside peak season. The COVID-19 pandemic also increased awareness of the impacts of tourism on the environment and local communities.

Nowadays, the label of ‘responsible tourism’ is by far the most well-used sustainability-focussed term throughout the travel and tourism industry. In fact, a study undertaken in 2009 by SNV suggests that tour operators are almost five times as likely to use the term ‘responsible tourism’ than any other similar label (e.g. ecotourism, sustainable tourism, ethical tourism). However, the subjectivity of the term also allows it to be exploited, and greenwashing (making misleading claims about how environmentally friendly a product is) remains a problem in the travel industry.

Why is responsible tourism important?

In 2020, the then UN Tourism Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, stated that:

‘Sustainability must no longer be a niche part of tourism but the new norm for every part of our sector. That means an opportunity to build back better and create an industry that is more resilient and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.‘

Tourism is one of the world’s largest economic sectors. In 2025 there were a record 1.52 billion international tourist arrivals, and international tourism continues to grow. Unfortunately, as the industry has grown around the world, so have its negative impacts, from overtourism to carbon emissions. The recovery from the pandemic has given the industry an opportunity to rethink how tourism is developed and managed.

From the depths of the Amazon jungle to the Australian outback, there are few places in the world that have escaped the burgeoning growth of the travel and tourism industry. Unfortunately, in many cases, this has come at the expense of natural resources, local economies and indigenous populations. Responsible tourism is all about minimising these negative impacts (think erosion, littering, rises in crime, deterioration of authenticity, economic leakage and so on) and maximising the positive impacts, such as the economic benefits, the preservation of natural areas and the promotion of culture and heritage, amongst other positive impacts of tourism.

Ultimately, if the very things that tourists travel to see (the beaches, mountains, wildlife and cultures) are to be preserved for future generations, then tourists and the tourism industry need to behave responsibly and sustainably. That is why responsible tourism is not just important, but imperative.

How can we be responsible tourists?

Everyone who travels needs to think about the impacts that their actions have on the world around them. It is extremely difficult (if possible at all) to be 100% responsible 100% of the time, but there are many things that tourists can do to help to protect and preserve the environment, society and the economy. You can read a detailed guide on how to be an ethical tourist, but here are a few simple changes that can help you to be a more responsible tourist:

• Don’t buy animal souvenirs
• Avoid unethical wildlife tourism
• Don’t drop litter
• Don’t touch coral
• Try slow tourism
• Opt for eco-friendly transportation options 
• Turn off the lights
• Try ecotourism
• Avoid single-use plastic
• Recycle 
• Don’t waste water
• Stick to main paths
• Shop local
• Limit economic leakage where you can
• Haggle fairly
• Learn the local language 
• Be respectful of local customs and traditions 
• Avoid giving money to children who are begging; support local charities instead
• Treat people fairly 
• Avoid sex tourism 
• Don’t take photos of people without their permission 

How can the tourism industry be more responsible?

A key aspect of ensuring sustainable tourism is careful planning and management. Tourism industry stakeholders at all levels, ranging from the taxi driver and hotel staff at grass roots level, through to international organisations and national Government, have an obligation to facilitate responsible tourism. There are many examples of what responsible behaviour from the tourism industry might look like in practice, but here are a few examples:

• Hire local staff
• Use local products and services to minimise economic leakage
• Use ethical marketing and promotion
• Involve the local community in decision making
• Recycle
• Have a strong sense of corporate social responsibility
• Use environmentally friendly products and services
• Seek certification from recognised schemes, such as those accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
• Educate workers
• Offer training and development opportunities for staff
• Work together with other industry stakeholders

Examples of responsible tourism

There are examples of responsible tourism all over the world. A few examples are outlined below (these can also be classified as examples of sustainable tourism).

Footsteps Ecolodge, The Gambia

Footsteps Eco Lodge in Gunjur, The Gambia, is a well-known example of responsible tourism.

The founder, David, was inspired to set up the lodge after taking a cheap holiday to The Gambia, where he discovered that staff at his hotel were earning, on average, only around £1 per day. He was uncomfortable knowing that local people were receiving little economic benefit from tourism.

David went on to develop Footsteps Ecolodge, with a mission to improve The Gambia’s trade through responsible tourism and therefore encourages sustainable development. The lodge aims to employ staff from the local village and to buy local produce wherever possible.

The lodge has many environmentally friendly initiatives, ranging from solar-powered electricity to composting toilets. It is located away from the main tourist resorts, such as Kotu, offering visitors a quieter and more authentic experience while ensuring that tourism spending benefits the local community.

Eden Project, Cornwall

The Eden Project is another great example of sustainable tourism.

It was built to demonstrate the importance of plants to people and to promote understanding of the vital relationship between plants and people. It is a large visitor attraction that welcomes tourists from the UK and overseas, and it is working towards becoming climate positive by 2030.

The project publishes annual sustainability reports, monitoring its impact year on year, and has held Planet Mark certification for carbon reduction for 14 consecutive years.

Reality Tours and Travel, India

Reality Tours and Travel’s mission is to provide authentic and thought-provoking local experiences through their tours and to use the profits to create change in Indian communities.

Reality Tours and Travel is a social enterprise. A large share of its profits supports its partner NGO, Reality Gives, which runs education and community programmes in the areas where its tours operate.

Reality Tours and Travel is also an example of how slum tourism can be managed more responsibly, with guided walking tours of Dharavi in Mumbai led by local guides and a strict no-photography policy to protect residents’ privacy.

Dolphin Discovery Centre, Western Australia

The Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury began when a local resident, Evelyn Smith, started feeding a group of wild dolphins near her home. Following her discovery, specialists were brought in to monitor and study the local dolphins.

A few years later, the Dolphin Discovery Centre allowed tourists and community members to interact with the dolphins in hope they would understand and enjoy the marine mammals.

In brief, the Dolphin Discovery Centre Adopt a Dolphin Program supports the conservation of dolphins and the broader marine environment.

To date, the Dolphin Discovery Centre not only conserves dolphins, the centre also conserves turtles too. Learn more on adopting a dolphin or turtle with the Dolphin Discovery Centre here.

Rancho Margot, Costa Rica

Rancho Margot is exactly what it sounds like: a ranch located in Costa Rica. It all began in 2004 when the founder of Rancho Margot, Juan Sostheim, purchased 400 acres of pasture. Despite the land being cleared of all vegetation, Juan Sostheim had a vision to grow food and raise animals sustainably.

Today, Rancho Margot focuses specifically on sustainable production and living, from the food it produces to their energy production and the transportation used. Read more on Rancho Margot here.

Rancho Margot’s sustainable mission is in keeping with the Brundtland Report.

“To achieve and maintain sustainable operations, we work to find better ways to satisfy our needs without compromising future generations​”

Responsible tourism: Key takeaways

Now that you know what responsible tourism is and how it works, let’s summarise the key takeaways:

1. Responsible tourism involves making ethical and sustainable choices when traveling.
2. It is important to respect local cultures, traditions, and customs when visiting a new place.
3. Supporting local communities by buying locally-made products and using locally-owned businesses can have a positive impact on the local economy.
4. Minimising your carbon footprint by using eco-friendly transportation options and reducing waste can help reduce the impact of tourism on the environment.
5. Being mindful of the impact of your visit on the local environment and taking steps to minimise damage, such as not littering or damaging natural habitats, is important.
6. Learning about the history and culture of the destination you are visiting can help you appreciate and respect it more.
7. Engaging in ethical wildlife tourism, such as visiting sanctuaries and conservation centres, can help support animal welfare and conservation efforts.
8. Respecting the privacy and dignity of local people is important when taking photographs or engaging in other tourist activities.
9. Supporting responsible tourism organisations and initiatives can help promote sustainable and ethical tourism practices.
10. Ultimately, responsible tourism involves making conscious and informed decisions that benefit the destination and its people, while minimising negative impacts on the environment and local communities.

Responsible tourism FAQs

Lastly, here are answers to some of the most common questions about responsible tourism.

Responsible tourism: To conclude

As you can see, responsible tourism is very important to ensure that the tourism industry is sustainable. To learn more about this, visit the articles listed below:

• Ethical tourism: Everything you need to know
• Agritourism: What, where and why
• The rise of revenge tourism
• Educational tourism: Everything you need to know

About the author

Dr Hayley Stainton is a tourism academic, examiner and the founder of Tourism Teacher. She has a PhD in tourism and more than 20 years’ experience teaching travel and tourism at school and university level. Read more about Hayley