Indonesia Named Among the World's Best Ecotourism Destinations

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), ecotourism is a nature-based tourism activity that emphasizes observation and appreciation of the environment and traditional culture.

The UNWTO also states that ecotourism activities have an educational component, support the sustainability of the natural and cultural environment, and provide economic benefits to local communities.

Forbes Advisor conducted research measuring the Ecotourism Index in international tourist destinations to help tourists find the best ecotourism experiences.

The index is compiled from a number of assessment indicators, including:

* Number of animal and plant species;
* Number of protected species;
* Number of UNESCO-listed natural heritage sites;
* Per capita CO2 emissions; and
* Overall environmental performance, such as air quality.

Forbes Advisor also assigns a score based on the number of species per 10 square kilometers in the country.

These indicators are then aggregated into a score on a scale of 0-100. The higher the score, the better the quality of ecotourism in a country is considered to be.

As a result, Brazil ranks first as the country with the best ecotourism index in the world, with a score of 94.9 points. The country is considered to have the highest biodiversity compared to other countries, with a richness of more than 43,000 animal and plant species.

Mexico is second with a score of 86 points. This North American country is home to 29,000 animal and plant species.

Australia is next with a score of 84 points. The land of kangaroos has the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, namely 16.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is in 9th position with a score of 80.1 points. Indonesia has the highest number of protected animals, namely 209 species.

For more details, here is a list of the top 10 countries with the highest ecotourism index according to Forbes Advisor as of July 11, 2023:

1. Brazil: 94.9 points
2. Mexico: 86 points
3. Australia: 84 points
4. Ecuador: 82.1 points
5. Costa Rica: 81.2 points
6. Bhutan: 81 points
7. Peru: 81 points
8. Indonesia: 80.1 points
9. Panama: 79.6 points
10. Tanzania: 79.3 points