Con 191 entries received from 16 countrieshe Responsible Tourism Award WTM Latin America reaches its sixth edition consolidated as one of the main platforms for recognizing good practices in tourism in the region. The organization has just announced the 26 finalists of 2026which represent initiatives of nine countries oriented to sustainable development on different fronts: from environmental conservation to social inclusion, through community strengthening, the valorization of heritage and the most responsible management models.
Brazil leads the list with 10 finalistsfollowed by Mexico, with five initiativesy Colombia, with four. They are also represented Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Perureflecting the diversity of projects that have been transforming tourism in Latin America.
An award that grows with responsible tourism
Created to recognize initiatives that generate positive impact in the territories and communities where they operate, the Responsible Tourism Award It integrates WTM Latin America’s strategy of stimulating more conscious and transformative tourism. The awards ceremony is one of the most emblematic initiatives of the event and accompanies the growth of discussions about sustainability in the sector.
The curation of the award is led by Pablo Menendezinternational consultant in sustainable tourism, and Aline Bispograduate in tourism and member of the technical leadership of the BATUC Network – Bahia Community Tourism.
In harmony with the theme of this year’s edition of WTM Latin America, the award has a exclusive category dedicated to regenerative tourisma concept that proposes to go beyond reducing impacts and seeks to restore ecosystems, strengthen communities and generate lasting value for destinations.
Finalists by category
Category 1: Best initiatives to confront climate change and conserve biodiversity
- Secretary of Tourism of São Paulo (Brazil)
- Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata and Lagoa Misteriosa (Brazil)
- Amazon Emotions (Brasil)
- Terra Peninsular, AC (Mexico)
Category 2: Best initiatives to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in tourism
- TURISTEA – Inclusive Tourism (Brazil)
- Cafe of Smiles (Nicaragua)
- Tlachtli Organization (Mexico)
- Caboclos House Ecolodge (Brazil)
Category 3: Best initiatives to promote socioeconomic impact and peacebuilding through tourism
- Travolution Colombia Foundation (Colombia)
- Montes Collection (Colombia)
- District Municipality of Capachica (Peru)
- Alagados Community Tourism (Brazil)
Category 4: Best networking initiatives to promote responsible tourism in destinations
- Project: Brumadinho Sustainable Tourism Network – Rede Terra (Brazil)
- Civil Association Isla Maciel Community Museum (Argentina)
- Union of Co’ox Mayab cooperatives (Mexico)
- Cartagena de Indias Convention & Visitors Bureau (Colombia)
Category 5: Best initiatives for indigenous tourism and/or traditional communities
- Asociación Céu de Montanhas (Brazil)
- Kichwa Expedition Native Travel Cia. Ltda. (Ecuador)
- Roots Program – Impact Hub San José (Costa Rica)
- Kíichpam K’áax ecotourism center (Mexico)
Category 6: Best initiatives to rescue memory and value historical heritage
- Mitote Tours – Xochimilco (Mexico)
- Agrotourism Agency Knowing the Nariñense Pacific SAS ZOMAC (Colombia)
- Temporary Exhibition Project of the Maranhense Gastronomy Museum (Brazil)
Exclusive Category: Best initiatives for Regenerative Tourism
- Minas Gerais (Brazil)
- Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve (Chile)
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve (Costa Rica)
The word of the organization
To Bianca Pizzolito, director of WTM Latin Americathe award is a portrait of the transformation that is already underway in the sector: «The Responsible Tourism Award translates, in a very concrete way, the type of tourism we want to stimulate: tourism that generates positive impact and contributes to the sustainable development of destinations. The diversity and quality of the finalist projects show that this movement is already happening throughout Latin America» .
Awards ceremony and accreditations
The winners will be announced on the second day of WTM Latin America 2026he April 15in a ceremony held on the stage of the Transformation Theater.
The 2026 edition of WTM Latin America will be held from April 14 to 16 in it Expo Center Nortein São Paulo (SP). Accreditation for travel agents is free and can be done through the official site. For trade visitors, there are differential values depending on the registration date.
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