Ecotourism Best Practices

Running a hotel isn’t just about welcoming guests when the sun is shining, the holidays are buzzing, or the corporate calendars are packed. It’s also about navigating the quieter moments—the off-seasons—when the demand drops, but the bills don’t. Over the years, I’ve discovered a few creative strategies that have helped us turn “off-season blues” into a vibrant hum of activity. Here’s what works: 1. Tap into local tourism and micro-events When international or out-of-town guests aren’t flocking in, look inward. Partner with local event organizers, small businesses, or community groups to host events, retreats, or workshops. Example: We’ve collaborated with yoga studios to host weekend retreats. These aren’t just room fillers—they create experiences that attract repeat guests. 2. Offer “workation” packages Remote work is here to stay, so why not position your property as the ultimate productivity-meets-relaxation destination? We’ve introduced packages that include high-speed Wi-Fi, quiet workspaces, and even lunchtime room service. The result? Professionals who extend their stays because they realize how much better work-life balance feels at a hotel. 3. Revamp your loyalty program Off-season is the perfect time to show some love to your loyal guests. Offer double rewards points, exclusive discounts, or personalized perks. Not only does this boost occupancy, but it also strengthens long-term relationships. Whether you're a hotelier, a business owner, or someone who deals with seasonal cycles, I’d love to hear how you tackle the quiet times. 

Sustainable tourism isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress, transparency, and a genuine commitment to doing better. Few people embody this philosophy more than Lars von der Wettern, whose work is actively reshaping the way we think about responsible travel. As Lars puts it: “It’s important to remind ourselves that we are not perfect, we’re human and what we aim for is a way of life which is why we accept imperfection while still aiming for a positive path forward. Fostering genuine community commitment, sustainability, and moving the needle towards transparent, regenerative business practices is our bottom line.” And that’s exactly what he’s doing, moving beyond sustainability as a marketing trend and embedding real, lasting impact into tourism business models. How? ✅ Regenerative & Community-Driven Tourism – Creating tourism models that don’t just minimize harm, but actively improve destinations, ensuring local communities and ecosystems thrive. ✅ Transparency & Accountability – Advocating for tourism businesses to embrace radical transparency in their sustainability efforts, moving beyond greenwashing. ✅ Economic & Social Equity – Promoting fair wages, ethical employment, and economic benefits that stay within the communities where tourism takes place. ✅ A Mindset Shift in the Industry – Challenging outdated tourism models and proving that sustainable, ethical, and profitable business practices can coexist. Lars’ work always highlights that tourism isn’t just about the places we visit, it’s about the people, cultures, and environments we impact along the way. On top of it, he is a genuine kind, and joyful person, always willing to connect and engage, and make this world a better place!

What if your travel adventures were harming the very things you love? Here is what I mean👇 We often get excited about seeing wildlife when we travel, but it’s easy to forget that our actions can have a huge impact on these animals. Imagine riding an elephant or taking a selfie with a tiger—sounds thrilling, right? 📍But behind those moments, there’s often a story of suffering that we don’t see. We should all aim to be mindful and responsible tourists. And it's possible to enjoy incredible wildlife experiences while also ensuring that we’re supporting ethical practices. Here’s how we can do better: 1️⃣ Avoid activities that force animals into unnatural situations for our entertainment. 2️⃣ Visit places that genuinely care for the animals and are committed to their conservation. 3️⃣ Spend a little time learning about the wildlife you’re going to see. It makes the experience more meaningful and respectful. I believe travel should be about connecting with nature, not exploiting it. So, let’s be the kind of travellers who protect the wildlife we’re so eager to see. P.S.: Have you had a wildlife experience that made you think twice? How do you make sure your encounters are ethical? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Fashion brands are doing what hospitality brands won’t. Meeting their audience where they are, not just at reception. Every summer, luxury fashion brands escape the city. They trade Fifth Avenue for Formentera. Bond Street for Bodrum. Not to close shop, but to open up a new side of themselves. 👜 Christian Dior Couture on the Riviera. 👟 Loewe in Ibiza. 👙 JACQUEMUS in Portofino. These aren’t just pop-ups. They’re expressions of the brand’s alter ego. Not the flagship. The weekend version. Sunnier. Looser. Unexpected. Same values. New vibe. A different guest connection. ---- The lesson for hotels? Your brand doesn’t have to live only inside your four walls. Hospitality talks a lot about storytelling, but rarely changes the setting. Fashion brands do it every summer. They meet their audience where they want to be, not just where the booking engine is. And they do it with precision: new aesthetic, localized narrative, immersive design. Temporary, but unforgettable. ---- A Few Ways to Implement This in Hospitality: 1. Reframe Brand Extensions as Story Extensions. → A pop-up isn’t just a marketing booth. It’s a scene change. Imagine your city hotel creating a weekend beach retreat in the Maldives, same service DNA, different moodboard. 2. Rethink Your Summer Strategy. → Don’t just discount suites. Build anticipation. Could your property collaborate with a fashion or wellness brand for a rooftop takeover, a coastal “offsite,” or a week-long summer residency? 3. Build Your 'Capsule Collection'. → Just like fashion’s summer drop, hotels could launch a limited series of room packages, F&B rituals, or pop-up experiences, with a seasonal theme and design twist. Think: The Summer Edit, a mini-menu of sensory, story-led upgrades. 4. Test Future Growth Markets, Softly. → Fashion uses pop-ups to explore new territories before committing. Hotels could do the same, partnering with local retailers, spas, or even private villas to pilot guest experiences, gather data, and refine brand fit. 5. Give Your Brand a Split Personality (In a Good Way). → Urban hotel = your guest’s 9–5 life: elegant, structured, efficient. → Summer pop-up = their weekend self: relaxed, indulgent, barefoot. Both are valid. But showing both builds emotional range, and loyalty. ---- Final Thought: Pop-ups aren’t about scale. They’re about intimacy. They show the guest: “I see you. I travel with you. I evolve with you.” In an era where luxury is about meaning, not marble Presence may be your most powerful product. I'm Curious: If your hotel brand had a summer personality, where would it live and what would it wear? #LuxuryHospitality #HotelInnovation #BrandStorytelling #FashionPopUps #SummerEdit #LuxuryTravel #HotelStrategy #EDGDesign #HNWFamilies #GuestExperience

Tourism plays a vital role in preserving biodiversity Biocentrism views all life as inherently valuable, placing humans and nature on equal footing. And regenerative tourism responds to biodiversity loss by actively enhancing ecosystems, underscoring the vital link between human health and environmental vitality. → What role can tourism play in enhancing biodiversity, especially through the lens of keystone species whose health is critical to ecosystem balance? Why it matters: - Regenerative tourism can reverse the negative impacts of conventional travel, turning it into a powerful tool for ecological restoration and biodiversity enhancement. - Keystone species like orcas and wolves are crucial for ecosystem balance, significantly affecting other species' diversity and abundance. - Regenerative tourism practices can help build ecosystems that are more adaptable and resilient, securing a healthier planet for future generations. Where to start: Restorative Experiences 1. Create tourist activities like coral planting and reforestation hikes to restore habitats and engage tourists in protecting keystone species such as the Azores' sperm whales and Yellowstone's wolves. 2. Local Conservation Partnerships Partner with conservation groups to aid keystone species recovery projects and protected areas, like sea turtle or bee protection, enabling tourists to boost biodiversity through donations or active participation. 3. Eco-conscious Accommodations Create accommodations using permaculture and native plants to support local wildlife, boosting ecosystem resilience and diversity. 4. Sustainable Supply Chains Sourcing from local, sustainable farms boosts land regeneration and biodiversity, aiding in soil health and the return of native species. 5. Community-led Tourism Incorporate local communities in tourism development to boost ecosystem health and preserve biodiversity through traditional practices like indigenous land management. 6. Policy and Education Advocacy Collaborate with policymakers to encourage regenerative tourism and educate tourists about keystone species, fostering support for conservation efforts. - → Adopting regenerative tourism can shift the industry from harming biodiversity to actively restoring and enhancing ecosystems. → Active participation in regenerative practices fosters a deeper bond with nature, nudging tourists towards more sustainable and conservation-focused behaviors. #RegenerativeTourism #Biocentrism #Biodiversity #EcosystemRestoration #SustainableTourism

Retreats used to mean flip charts, yoga mats, or “trust falls.” Now? The hottest trend is sitting quietly with strangers… reading. And it’s not a fringe fad, it’s a booming market: 🔹 U.S. book spending up 22.9% since 2019. 🔹 Silent Book Club has chapters in 55+ countries (events grew 460% this year). 🔹 Many reading retreats sell out within days, with repeat attendees coming back for more. Unlike mass tourism, reading retreats are low-impact: small groups, quiet activities, long stays, attended by affluent, educated, experience-driven travelers who typically spend more per trip (on boutique stays, curated meals, wellness add-ons, and cultural activities). For governments and destination managers, this trend matters because it delivers what policymakers claim they want: ✔️ Sustainable tourism → premium visitors, lighter environmental footprint. ✔️ Cultural branding → elevating local heritage, literature, and storytelling traditions. ✔️ Economic resilience → diversifying beyond volume-driven, low-margin mass tourism. ✔️ Leadership magnetism → attracting executives and creators who use retreats as labs for focus, strategy, and innovation. Imagine positioning your destination not just as a place to visit — but as a place to think. That’s soft power. That’s influence. That’s long-term value. #influence #leadership #strategy #innovation #softpower

Unpopular opinion: Tourism shouldn’t always be about growth 🙄 Sometimes, it’s about conservation, or even scaling back to preserve a community’s way of life. The magic happens when we connect tourism to local needs. While this sounds good in theory, it can be tricky to know how or where to start… A few approaches that help: 💎 Distribution matters. Rather than zooming in on volume, being a hub, and the same spots as usual, team up with nearby places to introduce smaller, creative, more sustainable initiatives that help prevent overcrowding and spread visitors and the benefits more 💎 Go hyperlocal. Building strategies customized for small towns and neighborhoods centered around their unique charm can inspire locals to discover more of their home, and visitors to explore beyond the usual. So many fun ways one can connect over shared interests/passions 😍 💎 Rather than just focusing on creating "authentic experiences", look at how you can improve the cultural offering, life quality, and engagement among locals. Letting them share and enjoy their culture in a way that’s meaningful to them, not just packaged for visitors, will make them feel involved and result in a better, more genuine visitor experience too ✨ 💎 For underrepresented groups and small entrepreneurs to benefit, we need to shift the focus to how they’re involved. By offering skills training, building partnerships, and providing platforms for them to take an active role. Supporting them in ways that add to their life (as they see it) and ability to preserve local traditions When we base strategies on what locals need, long-term priorities, regenerative models, and support those efforts with training and education, we’re creating something that benefits the places, the community, and the visitors. It leads to all kinds of benefits, way beyond travel 😉 ➡ Would you add anything? ➡ Any good example of tourism done in a way that benefits everyone involved? 📷 Contributing to that distribution in Sweden, Finland, Colombia and Bolivia #sustainabletravel #travelandtourism #communitytourism

Lots of people are talking about Sustainable Travel, but there’s more to it than that. Yes, sustainable travel is crucial, but it’s one of three key areas in the space: At bluesoup, we often talk about RES Travel - Responsible, Ethical, Sustainable... Here’s the difference: Responsible Travel: - Safeguarding resources for future generations - Minimising negative impacts - Example: Coastal town initiatives for rising sea levels Ethical Travel: - Ensuring local communities benefit - Supporting fair trade and cultural preservation - Case study: Community-based tourism where revenue stays local Sustainable Travel: - Tackling carbon footprints - Innovative solutions for environmental challenges - Example: Opting for trains over planes can slash CO₂ emissions by up to 90% These pillars are interconnected, with responsible choices often leading to ethical outcomes and long-term sustainability. The challenge? Implementation. It requires a shift from all stakeholders - travellers, businesses, and destinations alike. For UK travel marketers and business owners, RES isn't just about doing good; it's about future-proofing your business. Consumers increasingly demand these practices. The future of travel isn't just about where we go, but how we go and the impact we make. RES travel isn't a niche - it's the future of tourism. Question for industry leaders: How are you incorporating RES principles into your UK-based business model? What challenges and opportunities are you encountering?

"It only took one gut-wrenching comment to transform my entire approach to tourism consulting forever. 'Tourism brought visitors, but took away our identity.' Those words from a community leader in a remote destination stopped me in my tracks. For years, I'd crafted pristine marketing campaigns, celebrating picturesque landscapes and unique cultural experiences. My metrics were visitor numbers, spending data, and industry awards. But in that moment, everything changed. I suddenly understood that a successful tourism strategy isn't measured by visitor satisfaction alone. What about the people who call these destinations home? The revelation was uncomfortable but necessary: beautiful marketing campaigns mean absolutely nothing if they harm local communities. Since that day, every strategy I develop begins with a single question: 'How does this benefit the community first?' This community-centered approach has transformed results: → Visitors experience authentic cultural exchanges, not manufactured ones → Local economies thrive through sustainable business practices → Environmental impacts are managed for long-term viability → Communities maintain their cultural identity while sharing it with the world After implementing this philosophy across multiple destinations, I've seen something remarkable: When communities thrive, tourism naturally follows. Tourism should serve as a bridge between cultures, connecting people through understanding and respect, never becoming a barrier that separates or diminishes. The most valuable tourism asset isn't a landmark or activity, it's the community itself. I'm curious: How is your destination ensuring tourism serves everyone, not just visitors? What practices have you implemented to preserve community identity while welcoming guests?

Yesterday on a popular Walvis Bay catamaran tour, I was alarmed to see the crew(standard practice of all the boat operations doing this apparently) luring Cape fur seals and pelicans onto the boat with fish for passenger entertainment. This conditioned behavior has led to aggressive interactions—one pelican even nipped at a guest’s face repeatedly and a seal bit the guide’s pant leg when feeding stopped. The other guests laughed hysterically and adoringly, normalizing completely unnatural and unethical behavior. Beyond being heartbreaking to witness, these incidents pose a serious health and safety risk for both guests and wildlife, highlighting the urgent need for better risk management and ethically responsible tourism. As a tourism supply chain, we all have an obligation and opportunity to end these exploitative practices. Operators and DMCs need to reevaluate their offerings, comply with emerging global and EU regulations, and uphold higher standards of animal welfare. There is a clear opportunity here for boat operators to lead by example, stop engaging in this behavior, and use ethical practices as a competitive advantage—proving that sustainable, responsible tourism benefits everyone. #ResponsibleTravel #EthicalTourism #SustainableTourism #Namibia