Bird-watching has been on the incline around the world since the pandemic, and according to Audubon Magazine, there are an estimated 96 million birders in the United States alone. This makes up more than 30 percent of U.S. adults. And these adult birders spent U.S.$107 billion in 2022 alone on anything and everything a birder needs. It makes sense, then, that the birding tourism industry is also on the rise, but birders are selective about their destinations. But it’s not just about the birds.

The birds are, of course, a big part of the draw to a specific location, but a recent study shows that social stability and a country’s development level play more of a role. Even the flashiest toucans won’t attract this tourism facet if they feel unsafe or upon arrival.

Countries like Costa Rica and Colombia are booming with birding tourism, but other nations like Venezuela, even with their feathered diversity, are missing out on those tourism dollars due to social or infrastructure obstacles.

The study published by the British Ecological Society concludes that assisting under-visited countries to build up their tourism facilities and safety could help local economies and in addition support conservation.

The challenge is that the growth of avitourism must be done responsibly, ensuring the benefits to local communities and support and protection of fragile ecosystems that could be negatively affected by a surge of curious eyes peering through binoculars.

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