Following the conclusion of COP30 in Belém, a new documentary arrives to reinforce that the protection of the Amazon increasingly depends on continuous, local actions. The sustainable travel platform PlanetaEXO has just launched “Tourism That Keeps the Amazon Alive”, a 5-minute film that portrays how Amazonian communities are transforming tourism into an effective strategy for conservation and income generation.
The mini-doc, directed by Lucas Ribeiro, who is also the founder and CEO of PlanetaEXO, features accounts from residents who have replaced old extractive activities with more sustainable tourism models in the Amazon. By guiding visitors, sharing traditional knowledge, and directly caring for the territory, they show that it is possible to keep the forest alive while strengthening their local economies.
Recent figures reinforce the urgency of this movement. Between August 2024 and July 2025, the Legal Amazon recorded 5,796 km² of deforestation, the lowest rate in over a decade, according to PRODES/INPE. Even so, degradation caused by fire already accounts for almost 40% of recent losses, indicating that pressure on the biome remains high. For many families, tourism emerges as a concrete alternative to remain in the territory without resorting to practices that compromise the forest.
One of the most striking testimonies in the film synthesizes this change in perspective. “Tourism showed me that price is different from value. A local logger cuts down a 300-year-old tree to buy a chicken for lunch and ends up going without dinner. That's price. But when you understand the value, that’s when things start to change,” says Roberto Britto, a former logger and current tourism entrepreneur.
PlanetaEXO observes a growing interest in responsible travel, which strengthens community projects and expands the positive impact of ecotourism. In 2025, the platform recorded a 210% increase in the number of tourists in the Amazon compared to the previous year, with visitors coming from the United States, France, Germany, and other countries.
World Bank data shows that sustainable tourism already generates around US$2.3 billion per year in the Amazon. The figure is still far from the US$45 billion generated by extractive activities, but it is a new and growing market. Planeta EXO's documentary highlights the journeys of forest residents who discovered a more sustainable source of income in responsible tourism.
words, they describe how tourism transformed their routine, brought independence, and offered a dignified alternative to extractivism,” says Lucas Ribeiro. These are accounts that concretely complement the climate discussions raised during COP30.
Watch the film below, or on YouTube:
Technical Sheet “Tourism That Keeps the Amazon Alive”
Director: Lucas Ribeiro
Director of Photography: Isadora Sá and Marcelo Bonifácio
Editing: Marcelo Bonifácio
Interviews: Larissa Mariano and Isadora Sá
Production Assistance: Lucas Pinelli
Special Thanks: Zaltana Boat Crew
Participants: Joarlison Garrido – Nova Esperança Community; José Pancrácio – Nova Esperança Community; Roberto Brito – Tumbira Community; and Izolena Garrido – Tumbira Community