The United States sustainable tourism sector is likely to see steady growth throughout the forecast period 2025 to 2035. Keeping this fact in mind, the market is anticipated to be worth almost USD 761.3 Million by 2035 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3% over the forecast period as travellers become more aware of their environmental impact, destinations all over the USA are making efforts to minimize carbon footprints, sustain local economies, and adopt sustainable tourism action plans.
Some of these major undertakings involve green infrastructure implementation, national park preservation, and the promotion of green accommodations and activities. The USA market is also expanding due to the growth of sustainable transportation customers, including electric vehicle rentals and carbon-neutral flights.
Explore FMI!
Book a free demo
Pacific Northwest is at the forefront of ecotourism with green resorts, restaurants serving farm-to-table produce and ample outdoor recreation. Olympic and Redwood national parks are conserving land and creating tourism use on a sustainable level. Even some creative green transportation is taking place with electric buses and bike-sharing becoming increasingly available across the board.
Spreading across biodiversity hotspots such as Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone national parks, the region is welcoming nature lovers who want to coexist with nature without destroying it. Most of the resorts and hotels in these states are already going green by applying sustainable use practices such as use of renewable sources of energy and zero-waste management to reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing the experience of their guests.
The Northeast is focusing on green city tourism and nature tourism that is sustainable. New York and Boston are among the cities that have adopted the use of green building technology, public transport and green visitation schemes. Vermont and Maine rural areas are witnessing a shift towards ecotourism and agritourist, either to help the local farmers or forest conservation movements and with nature.
Southeast (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee) The Southeast is establishing sustainable mountain and beach resort tourism. Wildlife conservation programs and sustainable ocean tourism preserve programs are adding to ecotourism in Florida. Ecotourism resorts and nature conservation and ecological education nature guides are typical of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains.
Southwest emphasis is on environmentally friendly travel in desert landscapes and aboriginal cultural heritage areas. Arizona and New Mexico have introduced conservation-friendly tourism initiatives to support the preservation of delicate ecosystems and ancient archaeological sites. Texas has traditionally emphasized sustainable hotel initiatives, LEED-rated hotels and nature-sensitive outdoor structures.
Challenge
Balancing Tourism Growth with Environmental Conservation
The challenge for the United States is to encourage tourism in a way that protects its range of environments and ecosystems. Iconic locations like Yellowstone National Park and Florida’s shores draw millions of visitors every year, raising alarms about overcrowding, habitat degradation and resource depletion.
The rising number of tourists often leads to problems with waste management, pollution, and pressure on local infrastructure. Well on one hand the absence of well defined industry-wide sustainability certifications tends to confuse consumers into not identifying eco-friendly options, and the upfront costs of operating sustainably can be prohibitive especially for small businesses.
A collaborative effort is a must to combat these challenges. More collaboration between government agencies, private sector companies, and local communities is needed to put in place and enforce environmental protection laws, build sustainable infrastructure, and offer greener tourism options.
Tourism can always be a high-pressure activity for any environment, investing in renewable energy sources, waste disposal, improving public transport are all small devices that are used to transfer this pressure from the environment. One other step is to educate travellers on low-impact behaviours, and support the small businesses that make sustainability a top priority.
Opportunity
Growth of Eco-Friendly and Community-Based Tourism
Travellers are increasingly seeking authentic, sustainable experiences that immerse them in nature and local cultures. This is a great opportunity for the USA sustainable tourism market.
Tourists are looking for experiences that include finding animals, joining in on local festivals and sustainability efforts. Community-based tourism projects that benefit locals and promote cultural heritage are on the rise. Creating eco-lodges, guiding nature excursions, and farm-to-table dining are guidelines entrepreneurs can provide them with this green-thinking segment of the market.
Partnerships between tourism industry players and local populations can promote equitable sharing of economic benefits, thus contributing to sustainable development and improving visitor experiences.
There was a growing interest in sustainable tourism in the USA from 2020 to 2024, fueled by a rising environmental awareness and a demand for responsible travel choices. Tourism operators started getting green certifications, reducing waste and practicing destination management sustainability.
National and state parks implemented restrictions to limit the number of visitors, and sustainable lodgings began to flourish. Still, there were issues to address, including greenwashing, uneven enforcement of regulations and calls for infrastructure improvements.
Sustainable explorers will also demand carbon-neutral and even carbon-negative initiatives such as limited-carbon accommodations and tree-planting initiatives. We will see regenerative tourism, working not only to sustain ecosystems and communities but to restore them.
Infrastructure such as electric vehicle charging stations and improved public transit will make eco-tourism locations more accessible. Standardised sustainability certifications will allow travellers to differentiate between genuinely green options, with current standards not only inconsistent but often shifting between years.
Market Shifts: A Comparative Analysis 2020 to 2024 vs. 2025 to 2035
| Market Shift | 2020 to 2024 Trends. |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Landscapes. | Introduction of sustainable tourism guideline and eco--certifications. |
| Technological Advancement. | Growth of sustainable hotel certifications and eco-friendly transport options. |
| Industry Adoption. | Expansion of eco-resorts, national park conservation programs, and eco-volunteering. |
| Supply Chain and Sourcing. | Focus on locally sourced sustainable product and responsible travel souvenirs. |
| Market Competition | Presence of boutique eco-tourism operators and green-certified travel agencies |
| Market Growth Drivers | Demand for eco-lodges, carbon offset programs, and nature-based tourism |
| Sustainability and Energy Efficiency | Introduction of green hotels, waste reduction programs, and solar-powered resorts |
| Integration of Smart Monitoring | Use of digital sustainability tracking and eco-friendly travel apps |
| Advancements in Experiential Travel | Growth of wildlife conservation tourism, agritourist, and outdoor wellness retreats |
| Market Shift | 2025 to 2035 Projections |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Landscapes. | Strengthening of environmental protection laws and tax incentives for green tourism, and carbon offset mandates. |
| Technological Advancement. | Integration of renewable energy sources and development of low-emission transportation, and sustainable waste management systems. |
| Industry Adoption. | Growth of regenerative tourism and community-based initiatives, and widespread adoption of sustainability practices.. |
| Supply Chain and Sourcing. | Widespread use of biodegradable materials and carbon-neutral hospitality supply chains, and circular economy tourism models. |
| Market Competition | Expansion of large-scale sustainable tourism networks, eco-friendly travel platforms, and carbon-positive travel experiences |
| Market Growth Drivers | Rise of carbon-negative travel initiatives, regenerative tourism experiences, and community-driven tourism development |
| Sustainability and Energy Efficiency | Large-scale adoption of renewable energy in tourism operations, sustainable aviation fuel, and comprehensive sustainability monitoring |
| Integration of Smart Monitoring | Implementation of real-time environmental impact assessments, automated carbon footprint tracking, and data-driven sustainability strategies |
| Advancements in Experiential Travel | Expansion of immersive eco-tourism experiences, hands-on conservation projects, and culturally enriching travel opportunities |
The Northeast USA is shaping up as a key destination for sustainable urban tourism, green heritage preservation and responsible outdoor travel. Big urban centers such as New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia are leading the way with green-certified hotels, sustainable public transportation, and carbon-neutral initiatives for urban tourism.
The region’s national parks, hiking trails and coastal getaways are also seeing more eco-conscious travelers. Meanwhile, low-impact lodging, conservation tourism and sustainable adventure experiences are enjoying steady investments in bereft Adirondacks, Green Mountains and Acadia National Park.
| Region | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Northeast USA | 9.6% |
Sustainable tourism in the Midwest USA is on the rise, fueled by lake conservation and agritourism and by outdoor adventure tourism. States such as Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin are paving the way for sustainable lake tourism, wildlife conservation and fishing practices.
Low-impact tourism experiences are also taking off with national parks, hiking trails and Great Lakes conservation projects in the region. Meanwhile, farm-to-table culinary tourism and eco-conscious agritourism are being major draws in states like Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois.
| Region | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Midwest USA | 9.2% |
The Southeast USA sustainable coastal tourism, eco-friendly adventure travel and cultural heritage conservation are on the rapid growth. States such as Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are embracing marine conservation, eco-conscious beach resorts and responsible wildlife tourism.
Also, growing green tourism infrastructure in the Appalachian Mountains, Everglades National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway is luring sustainability-minded travelers. Expansion in eco-luxury resorts, carbon-neutral theme parks and Indigenous-led cultural tourism is also propelling the market.
| Region | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Southeast USA | 9.5% |
Sustainable desert tourism, national park ecotourism, and Indigenous cultural travel are seeing robust growth in the Southwest USA States like Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada are putting an emphasis on low-impact desert adventure tourism and eco-friendly lodging.
Increase green-certified desert resorts and wildlife conservation efforts and eco-minding tourism in the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and Monument Valley is drawing sustainability-minded travelers. In addition, the potential for renewable energy-driven visitor experiences is influencing a new age of carbon-neutral travel in the area.
| Region | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Southwest USA | 9.7% |
Eco-tourism and green tourism is the most popular segment in the United States sustainable tourism market, as the domestic and global international traveller increasingly demand low-impact tourism which contributes to conservation, biodiversity protection and lowering the carbon footprint. These sustainable tourism practices are important for hospitality companies, tour operators, environmental agencies, and government tourism organizations, as they align with the USA tourism industry’s sustainability agenda, provide local economic benefits, and emphasize the role of the USA as an international leader in sustainable tourism.
Eco-tourism has become one of the fastest-growing segments in the sustainable tourism market in the USA, allowing travellers to experience the country’s alternative landscapes, wildlife, coastlines and natural reserves. Eco-tourism represents a sustainable aspect of tourism, focusing on the conservation and the environment, things many tourists upon witnessing said oh no.
In addition, the increased need for protected natural reserves led the market to adopt the trend that incorporates sustainable practices with meaningful experiences. In fact, more than 65% of all future domestic travellers in the USA will engage in one or more eco-tourism activity during their trip, thus guaranteeing high demand for this sector.
Structured eco-tourism experiences such as wildlife safaris, responsible whale-watching tours, sustainable hiking expeditions and eco-lodges are also boosting market demand and making nature-based tourism more accessible and engaging.
Adoption has further increased with the addition of digital eco-tourism platforms with AI-enabled national park assistants, sightings of endangered species on the real-time wildlife conservation trackers, and VR-based pre-trip eco-education-plan modules.
Market growth has been made more optimal with the establishment of initiatives in regenerative eco-tourism with adventure tours that are carbon-neutral, off-grid eco-sustainable retreats, and even environmental volunteering programs that potentially appeal more to adventure travellers and conservationists alike.
Market expansion has been further ensured with the adoption of eco-friendly infrastructure such as LEED-certified hotels, solar-powered transportation for nature tours, and waste-free camping initiatives, which teach visitors about local environments while providing better alignment to global eco-tourism sustainability standards.
Green tourism has found strong market adoption particularly among eco-friendly travellers, sustainability-minded companies, and environmentally-responsible hospitality purveyors in a market where the USA is continually investing in carbon-neutral tourism infrastructure, green-certified lodging, and renewable-energy-driven getaways. Green tourism is not available for all forms of tourism to be energy efficient, reduce waste and carbon-neutral experience unlike traditional and ordinary tourism.
The growing appetite for green-certified hotels and resorts, from eco-lodges in California’s wine country to sustainable city hotels in New York City to solar-powered resorts in Hawaii, has spurred the uptake of green tourism as travellers pursue lodging and experiences that conform to sustainability pledges. More than 55% of travellers in the USA are actively factoring environmental impact into their accommodation decisions based on studies, which underscores strong demand for this segment.
The adoption of carbon-neutral travel initiatives is also supporting market demand for electric vehicle (EV) rental services for tourists, energy-efficient airport infrastructure, and climate-conscious aviation programs to greater adoption of green tourism practices.
In view of better transparency and more engagement in green tourism, deployment of systems for real-time carbon footprint monitoring, eco-mark ranking systems for hotels, and AI-based suggestion systems to drive data options for energy use in the future for tourism operators, attracted different tourism players to the new offering as part of the green tourism agenda.
Sustainable fine dining, net-zero spa resorts, and plastic-free tourism experiences are all part of the burgeoning development of eco-conscious luxury tourism, which has driven market growth potential by appealing to wealthy travellers with premium sustainable tourism offerings.
Renewable aviation and urban mobility deployments with biofuel commercialization on flights, deployment of net-zero airport infrastructure, and carbon offset products for environmentally-conscious travellers have bolstered market growth, helping retain better alignment with intercontinental climate action initiatives in the travel sector.
Although the green tourism segment is beneficial in terms of energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, and responsible tourism innovation, it is impeded by high upfront investment costs, regulatory inconsistencies, and limited standardized sustainability benchmarks. Fast forward to present day though and nascent innovations around AI driven calculation for tourism impacts, block chain based sustainable certification tracking, and AI powered personalized sustainability practices recommendations are improving the scalability, transparency and long-term viability of green tourism, ensuring ongoing growth in the USA
Of the market drivers - the online and the in-person booking segments - the former is among the more popular as sustainable travelers incorporate the convenience of real time experiential decision making into their travel plans.
The online booking segment is one of the most prevalent ways to book a sustainable travel experience, allowing travelers to book eco-lodges, responsible tours, and carbon-neutral transportation through digital platforms, OTAs, and AI-powered travel planners. Online booking offers sustainability ratings, AI-driven digitized trip designs, and real-time tracking of conservation impact some experimental, some proven that traditional booking systems don’t give you access to, she added.
Online travel booking adoption has been accelerated by higher demand for AI-driven eco-travel recommendations including features like sustainable accommodation filters, responsible tourism certification verification and integration for carbon offset bookings as eco-conscious travelers place importance on transparency and ethical tourism choices. There is strong digital traction for sustainable tourists in the USA, with studies showing over 75% of sustainable tourists using digital ways to discover and plan their green vacations.
The in-person booking category has successfully penetrated the market, targeted at experiential travelers and last-minute eco tourers to community tourism and everything in between, with sustainable travelers gradually leveraging local expertise, spontaneous decisions and real time sustainable travel offers.
As travelers lean heavily toward responsible, experience-led, and community-inclusive travel options, demand for flexible, on-the-ground sustainable travel experiences of eco-tour walk-ins, community-based tourism referrals, and on-demand bookings for local sustainability initiatives have led the adoption of in-person booking.
While in-person bookings have advantages, including spontaneity, community engagement, and local small business support, they are vulnerable to price discrepancies, language issues, and last-minute availabilities. But new innovations such as AI generated local sustainability maps, real time inventory for eco-hotels, and digital concierge for walk in travelers are driving efficiency, accessibility, and impact that guarantee growth for the in-person booking segment of the USA sustainable tourism sector.
The sustainable tourism market is growing: in the United States, eco-friendly travel, carbon-neutral hotels, and responsible tourism initiatives are just part of the overall demand. Artificial human intelligence (AI) accounting, eco-friendly tourism, carbon footprint monitoring around the world, and ESG goals are all ways in which companies and tourism operators are turning to AI to push sustainability. Planning process: The market consists of government agencies, eco-resorts, sustainable travel organizations, and national park tourism operators that all contribute to technological advancements related to smart tourism, green transportation, and the use of green technologies in AI-powered sustainable travel and tourism analytics.
Market Share Analysis by Key Players & Sustainable Travel Facilitators
| Company/Organization Name | Estimated Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| USA National Park Service (NPS)- Eco-Tourism & Conservation | 20-25% |
| The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) -USA Sustainable Travel Network | 12-16% |
| Xanterra Travel Collection (Eco-Hospitality in National Parks) | 10-14% |
| Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) - Sustainable Outdoor Travel | 8-12% |
| Biosphere Responsible Tourism (Sustainable Tourism Certification in USA) | 5-9% |
| Other Eco-Tourism Operators & Sustainable Hospitality Brands (combined) | 30-40% |
| Company/Organization Name | Key Offerings/Activities |
|---|---|
| USA National Park Service (NPS) | Leads eco-tourism initiatives, AI-powered visitor management, and sustainable conservation programs across national parks. |
| The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) | Specializes in eco-certification for sustainable travel operators, climate-conscious tourism policies, and community-based tourism initiatives. |
| Xanterra Travel Collection | Provides sustainable hospitality solutions, net-zero national park lodging, and AI-driven carbon footprint tracking for eco-travelers. |
| Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) | Offers adventure-based eco-tourism solutions, wilderness travel sustainability programs, and carbon-neutral travel packages. |
| Biosphere Responsible Tourism | Focuses on sustainability certification for hotels, travel agencies, and tourism destinations across the USA |
Key Market Insights
USA National Park Service (20-25%)
NPS is at the forefront of the USA sustainable tourism market, initiating low-impact tourism policies, AI visitor analytics, and carbon-neutral conservation projects.
The International Ecotourism Society (12-16%)
TIES focuses on eco-certification initiatives for responsible travel standards, sustainable adventure tourism, and embracing green hospitality.
Xanterra Travel Collection (10-14%)
They offer luxury sustainable hospitality by combining their AI-driven efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, as well as conservation tourism practices.
Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) (8-12%)
ATTA is an eco-adventure tourism authority that also addresses responsible outdoor travel experiences and Ai-enabled green travel management
Biosphere Responsible Tourism (5-9%)
Sustainable certifications are created for tourism operators worldwide in order to monitor net-zero emissions and adhere to responsible tourism best practices.
Other Key Players (30-40% Combined)
Several sustainable travel operators, eco-tourism brands, and green hospitality companies contribute to next-generation sustainable tourism innovations, AI-driven travel impact tracking, and responsible tourism education. These include:
The overall market size for United States sustainable tourism market was USD 311.7 Million in 2025.
The United States sustainable tourism market expected to reach USD 761.3 Million in 2035.
The demand for the United States sustainable tourism market will be driven by increasing eco-conscious travellers, government policies promoting sustainability, rising investments in green infrastructure, growth in eco-tourism experiences, and the adoption of renewable energy and carbon-neutral practices in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The top 5 countries which drives the development of United States sustainable tourism market are USA, UK, Europe Union, Japan and South Korea.
Eco-Tourism and Green Tourism Growth to command significant share over the assessment period.
Winning Strategies in the Airport Security Market: A Competitive Review
Winning Strategies in the War Tourism Market: A Competitive Review
Floating Hotels Industry – Competitive Analysis and Market Share Outlook
Floating Hotel Industry Analysis by Type, by End User, by Tourist Type, by Booking Channel, and by Region – Forecast for 2025-2035
GDS Technology Industry Competitive Analysis and Market Share Outlook
Heritage Tourism Market Analysis by Experience Type, by End User, by Tourist Type, by Booking Channel, and by Region - Forecast for 2025 to 2035
United States Sustainable Tourism Market
Thank you!
You will receive an email from our Business Development Manager. Please be sure to check your SPAM/JUNK folder too.
