The Skills Gap: Why Most Tourism Teams Aren’t Nature Positive—Yet

MOYO Training
Jul 3, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Sustainability is no longer a niche in tourism—it’s becoming the expectation.

From eco-conscious travellers to funding requirements and government policies, the demand for nature positive tourism is rising fast. But there’s one thing holding the industry back:

🛑 A skills gap.

Even the most committed teams often lack the knowledge, tools, and confidence to embed nature positive practices into daily operations. It’s not because they don’t care—it’s because no one ever taught them how.

A man presents to a group — *MOYO training participant shares his knowledge and ideas with the group*

Common gaps holding teams back

Across the sector, we see recurring blind spots in both frontline teams and leadership. Here are just a few:

Operational knowledge: Many staff don’t know how to align logistics, procurement, or waste management with regenerative principles.
Storytelling skills: Guides and marketers often miss opportunities to connect guests with local conservation efforts in inspiring, accurate ways.
Measurement & impact: Few tourism SMEs know how to track biodiversity outcomes or report on Nature Positive progress credibly.
Leadership alignment: Managers may champion sustainability—but without a shared framework or staff training, it rarely becomes embedded in the culture.

A women presents to a group in the mountains — *Nature Positive Tourism training in the Italian Appenines*

What does it take to become Nature Positive?

Embedding nature positive tourism isn’t about adding more to your plate—it’s about changing how you think about every part of your offering.

What’s needed is:

🧭 Systems Thinking

Understand how ecosystems, communities, and businesses interconnect—and make decisions with that big picture in mind.

🌿 Nature Literacy

Equip your team to identify, value, and protect natural assets—from wetlands and wildlife to soil health and native plants.

🧠 Skills for Action

Train your staff to confidently implement changes in operations, co-create with communities, and elevate the guest experience through purpose.

💬 Communication Confidence

Help everyone in your organisation—from guides to general managers—share your nature positive story with pride, accuracy, and authenticity.

It’s not about blame—It’s about empowerment

Let’s be clear: this is not about pointing fingers. The tourism industry has never been systematically trained in nature positive thinking.

That’s why MOYO Training Foundation exists—to fill the gap with empowering, practical, and accessible training that works for real-world tourism teams.

Whether you are an independent nature guide, run a small lodge, manage a national tour brand, or oversee staff in protected areas—your people are your greatest asset in building a sustainable future.