Tucson as a Sustainable Travel Destination
A City Paving the Way for Conscious Travelers
Tucson, Arizona shines as one of the top destinations for sustainable travel in the United States, blending its rich cultural heritage with eco-friendly practices that appeal to today’s conscious traveler. As one of the few U.S. cities participating in the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDSM) and the 5th most improved city in the world for sustainability in 2024, Tucson is setting the standard for responsible tourism that prioritizes all three pillars of sustainability; social, environmental and economic.
Social Sustainability
Socially sustainable cities like Tucson prioritize things like livable wages, a fair hiring process and reducing poverty. As of January 1, 2025, the city’s minimum wage is higher than both the federal and state minimum wage, with some restaurants such as 5 Points Market & Restaurant and Zio Peppe making it a point to pay workers above the city’s minimum wage. The city’s recently created Housing and Community Development department works to help people find housing and provides community support. And advocacy nonprofits such as Living Streets Alliance and the Bicycle Intercommunity Arts and Salvage (BICAS) work to push for equitable transportation options and community development. Currently all public transportation in the city is free for all to use, and our SunLink streetcar is the perfect way for visitors to explore our downtown districts using eco-friendly travel. Not to mention the nationally recognized Tree Equity Index that helps guide tree plantings to support climate resilience, and dozens of other programs and initiatives making the city a leader in sustainability.
Environmental Sustainability
The city’s commitment to environmental sustainability is reflected in many ways, one being that we are a national leader in water conservation, which has in recent years led to Tucson leaving more than its share of water in Lake Mead. Dark Skies have also been a long-standing conservation effort in Tucson. In 1972, it became the first city in the world to have an ordinance to address light pollution for space observation. The dark skies paired with Visit Tucson’s newly released Astro Trail, makes this the ideal destination for astrotourism. Finally, many restaurants in Tucson are going above and beyond to take sustainable practices seriously, even incorporating the Too Good to Go app into their everyday workflow. Useful Guides such as “Tucson City of Gastronomy’s Guide to the City’s Most Sustainable Restaurants” provide visitors and locals with a list of the city’s UNESCO rated gastronomy, while supporting sustainable foodways.
Economic Sustainability
The city's array of voluntourism opportunities, from helping steward the land with Flowers and Bullets to making wind chimes with Ben’s Bells, allow visitors to directly contribute to the economic and social well-being of the region while enjoying the natural beauty and cultural richness of the area.
Data shows that the sustainable tourism market is estimated to grow by $336 billion from 2022 to 2027. And that "80% of travelers confirm that traveling sustainably is important to them, but 44% of travelers don't know what traveling sustainably looks like." With more travelers seeking experiences that make a positive impact, Tucson is a clear leader, setting the example for how cities can integrate sustainability into every aspect of their travel offerings.
