Guests at andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge are watching elephants drinking. andBeyond Ngala Safari LodgeTourism often gets a bad reputation for leaving a heavy footprint, overcrowding destinations and depleting natural resources. Yet, across the globe, there are inspiring examples helping to rewrite that narrative and offer an alternative the tourism industry could strive for.A recent climate action study that surveyed 130,000 people across 125 countries revealed that 89% of respondents support political action to address climate change. But what about regions where government efforts fall short or lack clear intent? Should the local community wait or take action?Where there's a will, there's a way. There are many positive examples where tourism businesses are not only safeguarding but actively restoring the environments they, and all of us, rely on.Preserving Patagonia Is How Explora Plans To Set A New Standard For Conservation-Focused TourismWhen the Chilean government lacked the necessary funding to operate the 750,000-acre Patagonia National Park, Explora, an award-winning, B Corp-certified expedition company, bid and won the contract to manage the Park's ecotourism and infrastructure.Exploras 50-room emblematic lodge at Lake Peho in Torres del Paine National ParkExplora Torres del PaineMORE FOR YOUThe winning bid meant that Explora would allocate in total 5% of its gross sales (rather than profit) across three key areas: support for the National Forestry Corporation of Chile (CONAF), reinvestment in the Park's infrastructure and funding the Echo Society Program.Juan Marambio, Explora's sustainability and conservation manager, explained during a Zoom interview that the amounts allocated to the Echo Society Program fund multiple projects implemented in cooperation with Rewilding Chile, Terevaka Foundation, Naturaleza Pblica and Ruta Del Huemul.Explora started its operation in Chilean Patagonia in 1993. Now, it operates seven lodges in four countries, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Chile, and organizes guided expeditions in remote territories like the Sacred Valley in Peru or the Easter Islands.Explora's commitment to sustainability has been evident from the beginning. It has taken an active role in conservation and invested directly in restoration through numerous projects.Marambio explained that Explora is continuously looking for new ways to help. Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve is another example of its commitment to protecting the Chilean wilderness. The Reserve aims to safeguard and restore nearly 15,000 acres of former livestock land. Since its inception, they have been tracking their regenerative efforts with trail cameras. They could already witness the return of native wildlife like pumas and condors in masse.Guanacos in Torres del Paine Conservation ReserveExplora Torres del Paine Conservation ReserveExplora's latest initiative focuses on the Torres del Paine UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, it has developed a conservation plan. Now, it invites investors to become shareholders and contribute to a $17 million endowment fund to help protect in total 1.6 million acres of the Reserve.How Misool Resort Is Leading the Fight to Safeguard Indonesia's Remote Marine EcosystemsThe collaboration between Misool Resort and the Government of Raja Ampat, Indonesia, is another example of how tourism can effectively fuel conservation efforts.In the early 2000s, the founders of Misool Resort witnessed the dire state of Misool's waters, where sharks were absent and coral reefs lay severely damaged. Its owners not only wanted to stop this downward spiral but reverse it.South Beach Villas in Misool Resort illuminated at dawn. Misool Resort"The seed of the project was an urgent need to halt shark-finning and destructive fishing," says Jo Marlow, head of marketing and communication at Misool Resort in her email.To achieve this, it established the 300,000-acre Misool Marine Reserve, registered the Misool Foundation and built a sustainable resort to let tourism fund their conservation efforts. In 2023, the resort donated $118,693 to the foundation and provided a further $92,770 to fund community projects.The Misool Marine Reserve includes two No-Take Zones where all fishing and extractive practices are banned. Misool Ranger Patrol, in cooperation with the governmental units and the management of the Raja Ampat Marine Protected Area, patrols the area.Misool Ranger Patrol is working to protect the Misool Marine Reserve.Misool Resort / Shawn HeinrichsMarlow happily said, "Today, shark numbers inside the Misool Marine Reserve have increased by 190% since 2012, and we've planted almost 5000m of new reef since 2018."Unfortunately, the thriving marine life began to draw the attention of poachers and uninvited fishermen. Amid the government's stay-at-home mandate during the pandemic, it faced a harsh reality. A well-equipped large poaching operation with multiple vessels quickly moved into the area after Misools rangers withdrew regular patrols.Marlow recalled their deep fear, realizing that the nature they had worked tirelessly to protect over two decades could vanish instantly without active conservation efforts.Resilient Communities And Wild Places Is andBeyond's Approach to Impactful TourismAndBeyond, a luxury travel company primarily in Africa, brings over three decades of experience in combining conservation and hospitality. It all started in 1991 with the foundation of Phinda Private Game Reserve in Africa and continued in 2006 with an expansion to Asia and in 2015 to South America.Now, andBeyond owns and manages 29 sustainable eco-lodges, working on improving the lives of 75 communities and aspiring to increase their primary conservation area (owned or leased) from 555,000 acres to 1 million acres and their secondary conservation area (supported through collaborations) from 33 million to 40 million acres.Traditional boma dinner is ready for the guests of andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River LodgeandBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River LodgeJoss Kent, CEO of andBeyond, explains in his email that the key is building a resilient nature along a resilient rural community. Through its Theory of Change framework it is working to improve the symbiotic relationship between local communities and wild places.What does this mean? It means that andBeyond not only focuses on the restoration and conservation of wild landscapes and seascapes, but also on improving healthcare and education through building clinics and schools, nurturing young leaders through bursaries and fostering sustainable livelihoods.Kent also aspire to "double their impact" going forward. Currently, every time someone stays one night at an andBeyond property, it counts $125 as being invested in protecting nature and helping local communities. The company plans to increase this number to $250 by 2030.He continues by saying "In terms of our full impact spend, since July 2024 (when our financial year begins) we have spent $14.6 million across our operation on all aspects relating to the impact work we conduct. Through our guests we have mobilised a further $8 million in donations which goes directly fund Wild Impact projects since &Beyond underwrites their core operational costs."Andrew Venter, CEO of Wild Impact emphasized that in Africa other economic activities such as agriculture, extractive mining, or urban development tend to dominate as alternative land uses. But he hopes that the ultimate outcome of their collaboration with andBeyond will be a future that has healthy and resilient wild spaces and custodian communities actively advocating for their conservation and protection for generations to come.