about Martha Honey

Widely recognized as a leader in the field of responsible travel and ecotourism, Martha brings over two decades of expertise to her consulting firm. She has traveled and worked in the U.S. and dozens of countries around the world, directing teams of experts; leading field projects; conducting research; writing and publishing studies, articles, and books; organizing conferences, symposiums, and think tanks; lecturing and public speaking; and curating leading international and domestic ecotourism trips.

Martha has worked on the critical, cutting edge issues facing the tourism industry, including climate change, overtourism, indigenous rights, cruise tourism, certification and best practices, travelers philanthropy/impact travel, sustainable tourism master planning, ecolodge development, market trends and demand, nature-based and community-based tourism, and assessing the impacts of high value vs. high volume tourism. She has worked on projects financed by governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations, private businesses, universities, destinations, and international banks and development agencies. In addition, she has lectured widely on responsible and sustainable travel to audiences at universities, industry associations, international organizations, and tourism conferences.

Martha’s published books include Overtourism: Lessons for a Better Future (Island Press, 2021); Cruise Tourism in the Caribbean: Selling Sunshine (Routledge Press, 2019); Coastal Tourism, Sustainability, and Climate Change in the Caribbean, Vol. 1 & 2 (Business Expert Press, 2017); Ecotourism: Marine Tourism, Climate Change, and Resilience in the Caribbean, Vol. 2 (Business Expert Press, 2018); Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? (Island Press, 1999 and 2008); and Ecotourism and Certification: Setting Standards in Practice (Island Press, 2002). She was Executive Producer of CREST’s three documentary films: Caribbean ‘Green’ Travel: Your Choices Make a Difference, (2016). The Goose with the Golden Egg: Coastal Tourism on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast (2013); and Travelers’ Philanthropy: Giving Time, Talent, and Treasure (2010).

In 2019, Martha was awarded CREST’s first annual Legacy in Responsible Travel Award for her contributions to the field. She was also named one of the world’s top 10 eco- and sustainable travel “watchdogs” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine.

During the Covid Pandemic, Martha worked with Rhinebeck Responds to raise funds to support small independent businesses with grants and to promote a ‘Buy Local’ campaign for residents and visitors. In 2023, Martha qualified to become a Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) in Dutchess County, New York and joined the Tourism Panel on Climate Change (TPCC) as a Contributing Expert.

Previously, Martha worked for 20 years as a journalist based in East Africa (Tanzania) and Central America (Costa Rica). She reported for The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, The (London) Times, The Nation, BBC Radio, ABC TV and Radio, National Public Radio, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, among other outlets. She holds a B.A. in history from Oberlin College, an M.A. in African American history from Syracuse University, and a Ph.D. in African history from the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.