Coral reefs, mangrove forests, wildlife and ancient woodlands are becoming part of journeys in which encounters with nature go far beyond ordinary excursions. International awards and new initiatives in various countries show how tourists can discover the world through scientific research, conservation projects and meetings with local communities.
In early November, several international events at once drew attention to new directions in the development of tourism. On 2 November, the winners of the Global Responsible Tourism Awards 2026 were announced in London — an international award recognising initiatives that bring together travel, the development of local communities and a responsible attitude towards the environment. And on 6 November The Guardian published a selection of unusual conservation journeys based on readers' recommendations: from getting to know coral reef conservation projects off the coast of Tanzania to volunteer programmes in the forests of Scotland and a visit to a sea turtle rescue centre in Italy.
These events reflect a broader change in the tourism industry. Increasingly, travel is becoming an opportunity not only to see a new place but also to become more deeply acquainted with its nature, wildlife and local initiatives. Some travellers choose to observe rare animals in their natural environment, others spend their holidays at conservation stations, take part in growing corals or join the work of volunteer organisations.
International awards: tourism that benefits local places
The Global Responsible Tourism Awards 2026 involved 34 finalists from 24 countries. Six winners were selected across various categories: from cultural diversity and support for the local economy to conservation tourism and adaptation to climate change.
Among the recognised initiatives are Exodus Adventure Travels, which received the award in the Nature Positive Tourism category, and TUI Forest Mallorca, which won in the Adapting to Climate Change nomination. Other awards went to the Amba Yaalu Kandalama hotel project in Sri Lanka, the CAS Trips educational programme from the Czech Republic, the Brazilian project Céu de Montanhas and the Namibian initiative RuralRevive.
The approach of Exodus Adventure Travels is particularly interesting. The company links conservation work with the organisation of its own journeys: it supports the work of Rewilding Apennines in the Italian Apennines, cooperates with the Blue Marine Foundation in the field of marine ecosystem protection and develops citizen science programmes. During some trips, travellers together with guides record observations of plants, birds, animals and insects, passing the data on to research platforms.
As part of its partnership with Rewilding Apennines, the company supports the restoration of natural areas at a rate of 100 square metres for each traveller. This approach shows how an ordinary tourist trip can be linked to long-term projects that extend far beyond the itinerary.
Another example is TUI Forest Mallorca in the Balearic Islands. The project, implemented by the TUI Care Foundation together with the government of the Balearic Islands, received an international award for its contribution to adapting natural areas to climate change. Its work is focused on the Llevant peninsula and the Son Real area on Mallorca. By the end of 2028 year, they plan to plant 42 thousand native fire-resistant trees and 6 thousand plants here, as well as to continue restoring forest and coastal ecosystems. Tourists, volunteers, schoolchildren and local communities are being drawn into the initiative.
The ocean: from underwater experiences to taking part in the life of reefs
The new possibilities of the tourist experience are revealed especially vividly in the ocean. Diving underwater allows you to see the amazing world of corals, fish and marine inhabitants. But it is also an opportunity to become acquainted with reefs not only as a beautiful space for diving but also as a complex living system on whose condition the life of coastal communities depends.
It is precisely this kind of experience that The Guardian describes in a story about the Ropes of Hope project on Mafia Island off the coast of Tanzania. Instead of ordinary diving with reef observation, participants in the trip get to know the work of specialists who grow corals, study their genetic diversity and interact with local fishing communities.
According to the organisation itself, since August 2024 more than 75 thousand corals have been planted here, and the area of the reef plots on which the work is being carried out has reached almost 7 500 square metres. The project views the reef as a whole ecosystem in which marine life, scientific research and the well-being of the island's residents are interconnected. One of the important areas is the creation of a coral genetic bank, which makes it possible to preserve the diversity of species and their genetic lines.
Similar scientific initiatives are also being developed in the Caribbean region. In Florida, the Coral Restoration Foundation manages some of the world's largest marine coral nurseries. Different species and genetic lines are grown here, to be used later in reef restoration programmes. The organisation reports that its nurseries are capable of producing more than 50 thousand corals ready for transplantation every year.
Another large-scale project is being developed off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, on the Cayo Largo reef. On 2 November 2026, NOAA Fisheries reported on a programme implemented jointly with the organisation Sea Ventures. By 2028, specialists plan to plant 30 thousand individual corals of the species Acropora palmata at 60 restoration sites. The condition of the reef is monitored using underwater photography: thousands of images are combined into detailed three-dimensional maps that make it possible to observe changes in coral colonies.
These initiatives show that an underwater journey can become an introduction to modern marine science. Behind the beauty of the reefs opens up a whole world of research, technology and practical work in which specialists from different countries take part.
Wild animals: an encounter in their natural environment
Another format of travel is connected with observing animals in their natural environment. In Uganda, on the territory of the Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, travellers set off on walking safaris to see white rhinos on the savannah.
Unlike the usual safari by car, here the route is covered on foot together with an experienced guide. Visitors can observe the animals at a short distance, learn about their habits and the features of the territory. According to the state report on the condition of Uganda's wildlife for 2026, the total number of southern white rhinos in the country reached 61 individuals. The Ziwa reserve plays an important role in the programme for returning these animals to the wild.
In Brazil, a similar connection between travel and the study of wildlife is being developed by the organisation Onçafari. Its projects are devoted to the conservation of biodiversity, the study of the behaviour of jaguars, pumas and maned wolves, as well as interaction with local communities. The organisation brings together ecological tourism, scientific research and educational programmes. Observing animals allows travellers to see their natural behaviour, and scientists to collect data on the movements and life characteristics of the species.
Forests and sea turtles: a journey of participation
In the Scottish Highlands, the organisation Trees for Life offers volunteer weeks in the Glen Affric valley and other natural areas. Participants live in small groups in traditional mountain cottages, cook together and spend their days outdoors. The programme includes planting native trees, wildlife observation, studying vegetation and caring for forest areas.
This is a format of travel in which the impressions are formed not only from landscapes and walks. For several days a person spends time alongside people who know the local nature well, learns to understand its features and directly takes part in the work of the project. The organisation has already opened the schedule of volunteer weeks in Glen Affric for the spring of 2027.
Another example from the selection The Guardian is located in the south of Italy, in Calabria. In the town of Brancaleone operates the Sea Turtle Recovery Centre — a centre for helping sea turtles, opened in 2006. Here animals found in difficulty on the coast are treated and prepared for return to the sea.
The centre is run by volunteers and accepts visitors by prior appointment. According to The Guardian, during its operation the specialists have helped more than 700 turtles. The centre is also engaged in environmental education: it conducts excursions and educational programmes, introducing guests to the features of sea turtles and the work to conserve them.
For travellers this is an opportunity to see how such assistance is organised from the inside, and to meet the people who have devoted themselves to caring for marine life.
A new choice of impressions
Examples from different countries show how diverse nature tourism is becoming. It can be a few hours of observing animals, a week of volunteer work in a forest, a trip to coral nurseries or a visit to a centre where marine inhabitants are helped. In some cases the traveller becomes a participant in a project, in others — an attentive observer who learns more about the place and its natural environment.
At the same time, this does not necessarily mean complex expeditions or special training. Sometimes it is enough to choose a route with a local nature guide, visit a scientific centre, support an initiative working on the territory, or spend time in a national park, paying attention to its inhabitants.
Every place has its own story, and nature often tells it far more interestingly than any guidebook. Behind the beauty of corals hides the amazing life of the ocean, behind the grandeur of forests — complex natural processes, and behind an encounter with rare animals — the many years of work of people who have devoted themselves to their conservation.
Travel of this format allows you to see more than usually fits into a camera lens. To get to know nature more closely, to discover amazing interconnections and to feel how rich and diverse the surrounding world is. And perhaps the main souvenir from such trips is a new sense of the world: deeper, more alive and filled with discoveries. A world that you want not just to visit, but to discover again and again.
