Hawaii Joins South Carolina, Illinois, North Dakota And More To Launch New Sustainable Tourism Initiatives In 2026 To Turbocharge Us Travel Industry

Published on October 23, 2025

As 2026 approaches, a twelvemonth that promises to beryllium a transformative 1 for nan United States pinch important milestones, including its 250th anniversary and hosting nan FIFA World Cup, sustainable tourism is emerging arsenic a important attraction successful nan nation’s recreation industry. Across nan country, cities and states are launching groundbreaking initiatives to prioritize eco-friendly travel, trim carbon footprints, and beforehand responsible tourism that benefits local communities and nan environment. Hawaii, South Carolina, Illinois, North Dakota, and much are astatine nan forefront, launching bold sustainable tourism efforts aimed astatine reshaping really travelers acquisition nan U.S. These initiatives committedness to toggle shape U.S. travel by promoting greener, much responsible tourism options, pinch an oculus toward preserving nan nation’s earthy beauty and taste practice for early generations.

1. Brand USA’s “America nan Beautiful” Campaign

One of nan astir eager projects group to motorboat successful 2026 is Brand USA’s “America nan Beautiful” campaign. This inaugural is not only a ceremony of nan United States’ divers cultures, communities, and earthy wonders but besides a sustainable recreation activity aimed astatine promoting responsible tourism. The America nan Beautiful run seeks to reconnect travelers pinch nan immense cultural, environmental, and humanities practice of nan U.S., encouraging them to research off-the-beaten-path destinations. This effort aligns pinch nan country’s 250th day celebrations and events for illustration nan FIFA World Cup, making it a cardinal constituent of nan nation’s tourism strategy moving forward. Through this campaign, Brand USA will item eco-friendly tourism experiences that promote deeper, much meaningful interactions pinch section communities, preserving nan nation’s practice for early generations.

2. Hawaii’s Climate Change Tax for Tourists

As portion of its ongoing committedness to climate resilience, Hawaii is implementing an innovative “Green Fee” for visitors starting January 1, 2026. This 0.75% summation successful nan transient accommodations taxation will beryllium nan first ambiance alteration tax for visitors successful nan U.S. The gross generated from this fee, which is expected to raise astir $100 cardinal annually, will money important ambiance resilience initiatives, including beach replenishment, wildfire prevention, and enhancing nan state’s wide biology protection efforts. The implementation of this interest underscores Hawaii’s dedication to environmental stewardship and ensuring that its tourism assemblage is portion of nan solution to combat ambiance change. This move places nan islands astatine nan forefront of a broader inclination successful sustainable tourism, encouraging different destinations to see akin measures.

3. The Rise of Slow and Regenerative Tourism

The conception of slow tourism and regenerative travel is gaining traction, and 2026 is group to spot these trends grow crossed nan United States. As travelers go much conscious of their biology impact, galore are opting for slower, much immersive recreation experiences that let them to link pinch nan section civilization and situation connected a deeper level. Regenerative tourism focuses connected leaving a affirmative effect connected nan places visited, alternatively than conscionable minimizing harm. This mightiness see volunteering for section conservation projects, supporting businesses that prioritize sustainable practices, and engaging successful activities that thief reconstruct earthy habitats. With eco-conscious travelers seeking retired these kinds of experiences, nan request for sustainable recreation options will proceed to grow, prompting destinations crossed nan U.S. to accommodate to this displacement successful user preference.

4. Black River State Park, South Carolina

In 2026, South Carolina will unfastened nan doors to Black River State Park, a new authorities park designed pinch eco-friendly principles successful mind. This will beryllium nan first caller authorities parkland to unfastened successful nan authorities successful complete 20 years. The park, located on nan Black River, will connection canoe and kayak launches, boardwalks, nature trails, and designated day-use areas, each while promoting environmental education and sustainable outdoor recreation. The parkland is portion of a larger effort to create caller outdoor spaces that item South Carolina’s earthy beauty while besides supporting conservation efforts. Black River State Park will supply a pristine mounting for visitors to acquisition quality up adjacent while ensuring that improvement remains delicate to nan surrounding ecosystem.

5. Byway Discovery Center, Illinois

Illinois will soon beryllium location to nan $10 cardinal Byway Discovery Center successful Jersey County, group to unfastened successful outpouring 2026. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to beforehand nan Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, a 300-mile agelong of scenic roads that tally on nan Mississippi River. The Byway Discovery Center will service arsenic a hub for sustainable tourism, educating visitors astir nan section history, culture, and situation while promoting eco-friendly transportation options, specified arsenic cycling and walking. This improvement intends to boost section economies done tourism while encouraging responsible recreation practices. With nan opening of nan center, Illinois hopes to supply visitors pinch much eco-conscious travel experiences and foster a greater appreciation for nan region’s earthy resources.

6. Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, North Dakota

In 2026, nan Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will unfastened adjacent Theodore Roosevelt National Park successful North Dakota. This library, dedicated to nan life and bequest of 1 of America’s astir renowned conservationists, will service arsenic an acquisition and tourism hub, attracting eco-conscious travelers willing successful learning astir conservation and America’s earthy heritage. The room will besides lend to section economic development by drafting visitors to nan region and promoting sustainable tourism practices. It aligns perfectly pinch nan state’s broader strategy to item nan intersection of history, culture, and environmental preservation, ensuring that early generations tin admit nan nation’s earthy wonders.

7. Salvaged Stays and Unique Accommodations

Another emerging inclination successful U.S. tourism is nan emergence of “Salvaged Stays”, which involves repurposing aged buildings into sustainable accommodations. From erstwhile train stations to schools and moreover prisons, these unsocial accommodations are offering travelers an opportunity to acquisition history while staying successful environmentally responsible lodging. The conception of upcycling historical buildings into hotels aliases Airbnb properties is gaining fame arsenic travelers activity to enactment successful much unique, sustainable spaces. These salvaged properties not only sphere nan nation’s architectural practice but besides lend to reducing nan biology footprint of caller construction.

8. Smart Travel Health Check by Expedia

In 2026, Expedia will motorboat its Smart Travel Health Check, a instrumentality that helps travelers place destinations and accommodations that prioritize sustainability. This inaugural will let travelers to make much informed decisions astir wherever to spell and wherever to enactment based connected a destination’s biology impact, discarded guidance practices, and support for section communities. By providing greater transparency, Expedia hopes to empower travelers to take much eco-friendly travel options, making sustainability an integral portion of nan readying process.