Rainforest Alliance - Sustainable Tourism Program

The Rainforest Alliance's sustainable tourism program works to conserve natural resources and maintain the cultural identity and way of life of local populations by working with community organizations and small and medium-sized tourism businesses throughout Latin America.

The Rainforest Alliance provides these businesses, which range from modern hotels to community coops, with the training and technical assistance they need to adopt socially and environmentally sound practices.

We begin with a series of workshops where participants learn what they can do to make their businesses sustainable. Participants are also introduced to the basics of independent, third-party certification.

By complying with a comprehensive set of standards for environmental and social responsibility, enterprises are eligible to earn an ecolabel, which can help attract more clients and become more profitable and competitive than ever before.

After the initial training workshops, entrepreneurs interested in pursuing certification may enter a Rainforest Alliance sponsored pilot program where they receive technical assistance geared to help them improve their business practices, particularly with regard to the environment and their surrounding communities and to promote sustainable travel to their clients.