At a key moment for the evolution of global tourism, Costa Rica has been chosen to host the most important event in Ibero-America on tourism sustainability: the Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit 2025. From May 20 to 23, 2025, this prestigious international event will bring together leaders from the public and private sectors, entrepreneurs, NGOs, academics, and communities from across the continent under one purpose: to build fairer, more responsible, and regenerative tourism.

For the first time outside Mexico, the Summit comes to a country that has made environmental conservation and eco-tourism its hallmark. As part of this commitment to positive change, Green Circle Experience, a pioneer in sustainable tourism and electric mobility, joins as an official sponsor of the event, reaffirming its commitment to regenerative innovation and the well-being of local communities.

This edition of the Summit represents an unprecedented opportunity to position Costa Rica as a regional and global leader in purposeful tourism.

History of the Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit

The Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit was founded in 2017 in Cancun, Mexico, as a meeting platform for tourism professionals seeking to rethink the industry’s impact on the environment and communities. Since its inception, the event has welcomed more than 4,800 attendees and 390 speakers from over 50 countries, becoming one of the most influential spaces in Latin America for sustainable tourism.

Over the years, the Summit has been a catalyst for partnerships between companies, governments, communities, and social organizations. Topics such as emissions reduction, community-based tourism, responsible destination management, universal accessibility, and gender equity in tourism have been addressed from a collaborative perspective.

Among its most valuable contributions are the strengthening of community projects, the promotion of rural tourism, and the creation of regional networks that have enabled the replication of best practices across countries.

With this background, the event now arrives in Costa Rica, looking to draw from the local experience in ecotourism, conservation, and community participation. The 2025 edition will undoubtedly be one of the most significant to date.

Costa Rica as Host 2025: Significance and Recognition

The decision to move the Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit outside of Mexico for the first time is both symbolic and strategic. Costa Rica was chosen to host the ninth edition due to its global leadership in sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and responsible tourism policies.

The event will take place from May 20 to 23, 2025, at the Costa Rica Convention Center, a modern and environmentally certified venue located strategically in San José. This space will host more than 1,000 participants, including decision-makers, tour operators, community representatives, researchers, and media.

Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, William Rodríguez, publicly celebrated the news, highlighting the country’s commitment to a tourism model that balances economic growth, social well-being, and environmental conservation. In his words: “Hosting this summit not only honors Costa Rica, but invites us to show the world how ethical and regenerative tourism is possible.”

This choice also strengthens Costa Rica’s global standing as an exportable model of good tourism practices, a reputation backed by reports from the World Travel & Tourism Council and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

2025 Central Theme: “Tourism from a Community Perspective”

Under the theme “Tourism from a Community Perspective”, the Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit 2025 will address one of the most urgent and promising issues in 21st-century tourism: the empowerment of local communities as key players in tourism development.

The event program will include:

• Panels with international experts, ministers, Indigenous leaders, and equity activists.
• Practical workshops on regenerative tourism models, circular economy, and community certifications.
• Technical visits to successful tourism projects in different regions of Costa Rica, especially in rural and coastal areas.
• The 4th Ibero-American Award for Sustainable and Social Tourism, recognizing the most innovative initiatives in the region.

The community-based approach seeks to rethink the traditional hierarchical structure of tourism, where decisions are often made far from the people who inhabit the destinations. Instead, it proposes an inclusive model where local culture, traditional knowledge, and fair distribution of benefits are essential.

This emphasis is especially relevant in Costa Rica, where there are numerous community-based rural tourism experiences, particularly in Indigenous territories, buffer zones of national parks, and marine protected areas.

Costa Rican and Regional Participation

The 2025 edition of the Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit offers a unique opportunity for Costa Rica to showcase its diverse sustainable initiatives, many of which are locally born and thrive through community work.

Various national institutions, such as the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), CANATUR, and regional tourism chambers, will play a key role as co-organizers and facilitators of the event. In addition, active participation is expected from NGOs, rural cooperatives, universities, and community tourism networks.

Regions like the South Caribbean, Los Santos, the Nicoya Peninsula, and the Brunca Region have confirmed their interest in showcasing successful local development-focused tourism projects, including:

• The Bribri-Cabécar Indigenous Villages Route in Talamanca.
• The Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Monteverde.
• The Osa-Golfo Dulce Biological Corridor, an example of public-community collaboration.
• The Guanacaste Rural Women’s Network, focused on gastronomic and experiential entrepreneurship.

The Summit will serve as a platform and connection point for these communities to access new business alliances, international cooperation funding, and technical knowledge networks.

Green Circle Experience: Official Sponsor of the 2025 Summit

One of the most notable participants at this Summit will be Green Circle Experience, a Costa Rican company pioneering in the development of sustainable tourism experiences, electric mobility, and regenerative wellness. As official sponsor of the Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit 2025, Green Circle will bring its visionary approach and operational model, which blends luxury, innovation, and environmental respect.

Founded with the mission of offering positive-impact tourism, Green Circle Experience integrates into its operations:

• 100% electric transportation for all its tours.
• Accommodation in certified eco-lodges and sustainable boutique hotels.
• Route design with minimal carbon footprint.
• Wellness approaches including biohacking, conscious eating, and nature connection.

During the Summit, Green Circle will participate in key activities such as:

• Presentations on clean mobility and tourism electrification in Central America.
• Panels on regenerative tourism and business transformation.
• Exclusive experiences for international delegations, including eco-routes in electric vehicles, sustainability workshops, and technical visits.

The company has also committed to providing sustainable transportation logistics for part of the participants, demonstrating how efficiency, luxury, and sustainability can be integrated into Costa Rica’s tourism industry.

Expected Impact of the 2025 Summit in Costa Rica and the Region

Hosting the Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit 2025 in Costa Rica represents not only an honor but also a great opportunity for national and regional transformation. The convergence of global, local, and community actors in one dialogue space will help accelerate key sustainable tourism initiatives and forge long-term partnerships.

Expected impacts include:

• Strengthening Costa Rica’s country image as a leader in regenerative tourism.
• Economic boost for small and medium tourism enterprises through networking with international buyers.
• International visibility for rural and Indigenous projects that usually have no access to global tourism fairs.
• Local capacity building through workshops, certifications, and technical sessions.
• Attraction of green investment and international cooperation, especially in clean mobility, community tourism, and conservation.

Additionally, this event will help rethink tourism governance by actively integrating local communities in decision-making and promoting a multi-stakeholder approach involving the public, private, and social sectors.

Costa Rica can also serve as a model for other Latin American and Caribbean countries seeking to balance tourism growth with the protection of their natural and cultural heritage.

How to Participate or Attend?

The Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit 2025 is open to professionals, students, communities, businesses, governments, and the general public interested in the future of responsible tourism. There are various ways to get involved.

The Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit 2025 is a statement of principles. It is tangible evidence that a different way of practicing tourism is not only possible, but necessary. For Costa Rica, it is a historic opportunity to share its learnings, open new conversations, and consolidate leadership that transcends the environmental to embrace the social, ethical, and human dimensions.

The country’s selection as host, along with the active participation of public institutions, local communities, and transformative companies like Green Circle Experience, shows that the private sector can—and must—play a leading role in the path toward a fairer and more regenerative model. This Costa Rican company, by taking on the official sponsorship of the Summit, becomes a living example of how innovation, profitability, and sustainable values can be successfully combined.

At People of Costa Rica, we celebrate this milestone with enthusiasm. We believe that telling these stories, showcasing these projects, and connecting the change agents is fundamental to our role. As a media outlet, and as part of a community that understands tourism can be a tool for cultural, economic, and environmental transformation, we are proud to support this journey.

The call is clear: let’s build a tourism with purpose, where travel means connection, learning, caring, and transforming. Costa Rica has already taken the step. The world is invited to follow.