Ronald Sanabria dedicated his career to transforming tourism from empty promises into tangible benefits for forests, villages, and local people across Latin America. His work connected businesses, governments, and communities under a shared goal of genuine sustainability.
- Tourism can support places but also cause strain without careful management.
- Sanabria made sustainability accessible to small businesses and communities.
- He helped develop credible certification systems for responsible tourism.
What happened
Ronald Sanabria, a Costa Rican engineer, passed away on July 1st at the age of 57. Over nearly three decades, he became a leading figure in sustainable tourism throughout Latin America. Beginning in 1998 with the Rainforest Alliance, he initially worked on sustainable agriculture before developing a robust program to bring sustainability practices into tourism.
Sanabria’s work involved collaborating with a wide range of actors—from hotels and tour operators to community groups and governments—to ensure that tourism supported nature conservation, improved livelihoods, and maintained cultural integrity. He helped build key certification organizations aimed at improving credibility in an often fragmented and crowded marketplace.
Why it feels good
Sanabria’s approach was grounded in a practical, people-first perspective. He believed that sustainability needed to be demystified and made accessible, especially for small and community-based businesses already practicing parts of it. By translating complex ideas into common sense and fostering peer learning, he empowered local entrepreneurs to improve quality while protecting their home environments.
His work bridged gaps between environmental goals and economic realities, demonstrating that responsible tourism could be both profitable and protective. The recognition he gained stemmed from his ability to make lofty sustainability principles work on the ground, creating real, measurable benefits for forests, communities, and travelers.
What to enjoy or watch next
For travelers and tourism professionals alike, Ronald Sanabria’s legacy inspires a deeper appreciation for how tourism can contribute to sustainable development. Supporting accommodations and tour operators certified under credible sustainability standards helps ensure a positive impact on places that welcome visitors.
Looking ahead, the frameworks and networks Sanabria helped establish will continue evolving, encouraging greater collaboration and innovation. Observing how local communities in Costa Rica and across Latin America balance tourism growth with conservation and cultural preservation offers a hopeful view of tourism’s potential to thrive responsibly.