Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund Expands Investments Across Southeast Asia

The Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund, a partnership between Agoda, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, and the UnTours Foundation, has announced its second round of investments alongside early impact results from the Fund’s inaugural cohort.

Livingseas Asia (Indonesia)
- Dive tourism integrated with coral reef restoration in Padangbai, Bali
- Over 7,300 m² of reef restored and 320,000 coral fragments planted
- New funding supports modular housing for staff/trainees, boosting capacity for marine education and conservation

Bambike Ecotours (Philippines)
- Combines bamboo agroforestry, fair trade bicycle manufacturing, and regenerative tourism
- Developing Ligtasin Cove in Batangas: bamboo-built destination with coastal ecotours and a bamboo nursery
- Aims to create local jobs and expand low-carbon tourism

Early Impact Results (from inaugural cohort)
- Thailand – Local Alike: Expanded Travel With Care to 10 destinations, launched 16 regenerative tourism activities, partnered with national parks
- Philippines – Ecohotels: Onboarded 22 farmers, planted 500 mango trees, increased plant-based menus to 50%, launched Green Warriors workforce program
- Indonesia – Sejiva: Introduced heritage walking tours and coral restoration in West Java/Jakarta, scaled #travelpositive campaign

Broader Strategy
- Fund provides USD 25,000 loans to SMEs integrating environmental restoration, climate resilience, and inclusive development
- Backed by Agoda, WWF Singapore, and UnTours Foundation
- Builds on Agoda’s Eco Deals program, which channels hotel booking proceeds into conservation initiatives

This expansion shows how flexible financing can empower small tourism enterprises to deliver measurable environmental and community benefits, while strengthening resilience of destinations.