PlanetaEXO releases “Tourism That Keeps the Amazon Alive”, highlighting sustainable travel’s role in rainforest conservation.
Following the conclusion of COP30 in Belém, a new documentary emphasizes that protecting the Amazon depends on local, ongoing efforts. The sustainable travel platform PlanetaEXO launched “Tourism That Keeps the Amazon Alive,” a five-minute film showcasing how Amazonian communities are turning tourism into a tool for conservation and income generation.
Stories inspiring transformation
Directed by Lucas Ribeiro, founder and CEO of PlanetaEXO, the short film presents stories of residents who replaced extractive activities with community-based tourism. By guiding visitors, sharing traditional knowledge, and protecting their territories, they demonstrate it’s possible to keep the forest alive while strengthening local economies.
Recent data from PRODES/INPE shows deforestation in the Legal Amazon dropped to 5,796 km² between August 2024 and July 2025 — the lowest in over a decade. Yet, fires still account for nearly 40% of recent forest loss, revealing constant pressure on the biome. For many families, tourism has become a viable way to stay on their land without harming the forest.
“Tourism showed me that price is different from value. A man cuts down a 300-year-old tree to buy a chicken for lunch and ends up with no dinner. That’s price. Understanding value changes everything,” says Roberto Britto, former logger turned tourism entrepreneur.
Tourism driving conservation
In 2025, PlanetaEXO recorded a 210% increase in Amazon visitors compared to the previous year, attracting travelers from the United States, France, Germany, and beyond. According to the World Bank, sustainable tourism already generates around US$ 2.3 billion annually in the region — still behind the US$ 45 billion from extractive industries, but growing fast.
“The film focuses on the people behind these efforts. In their own words, they describe how tourism changed their daily lives, brought them independence, and provided a dignified alternative to extractivism,” explains Lucas Ribeiro. The documentary offers a real-world complement to the climate discussions raised during COP30.
Crew and credits
Title: Tourism That Keeps the Amazon Alive
Format: Documentary
Duration: 5 minutes
Director: Lucas Ribeiro
Cinematography: Isadora Sá and Marcelo Bonifácio
Editing: Marcelo Bonifácio
Interviews: Larissa Mariano and Isadora Sá
Production Assistant: Lucas Pinelli
Special Thanks: Barco Zaltana Team
Participants: Joarlison Garrido and José Pancrácio (Nova Esperança Community); Roberto Brito and Izolena Garrido (Tumbira Community)
