The Future of Amazon Ecotourism
Today we learn about the role of ecotourism in Amazon conservation from governments, operators, NGOs, and indigenous communities. Ecotourism is expected to be a $333.8B market by 2027, growing faster than the regular tourism industry before the pandemic. Tourism to protected areas also has the potential to channel 60x more income to these areas than conservation funding; Costa Rica is a prime example of the potential of this industry to transform economic development in the Amazon. However, the Amazon ecotourism industry is fragmented, lacking infrastructure that could connect the region and empower growth, and has proven to be vulnerable to shocks like the current pandemic. What investments, tools, and programs are needed to scale this industry nationally and across the region? How can governments, investors, and businesses capitalize on the potential of this market to fund the conservation of protected areas and indigenous territories? Join the discussion with Thiago Beraldo, Richard Bodmer, Jon Bruno, Carla James, Gabriel Minas Amaya, and Sophia Wood.
