Birdwatching Tourism Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Birdwatching Tourism Market is projected to expand from USD 68.56 Billion in 2025 to USD 97.97 Billion by 2031, reflecting a CAGR of 6.13%. This specialized travel sector focuses on the observation and study of avifauna within their natural habitats, encompassing activities ranging from guided ornithological expeditions to independent visits to biodiversity hubs. The market's sustained growth is primarily fueled by a worldwide increase in environmental awareness and a rising consumer preference for regenerative, sustainable travel. Additionally, the growing recognition of the mental health advantages associated with nature immersion has widened the activity's appeal, attracting a broader demographic of wellness-focused travelers alongside traditional hobbyists.

Despite this positive outlook, the industry faces significant challenges regarding climate change and habitat degradation, which threaten the avian biodiversity that serves as the sector's core asset. Protecting these ecosystems is essential for maintaining the market's long-term viability and continuing to attract visitors. However, consumer engagement remains deep, indicating a strong foundation for future expansion. For instance, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds noted that in 2024, more than 600,000 people participated in the Big Garden Birdwatch, highlighting the vast enthusiast base that supports the demand for birding tourism services.

Market Drivers

A primary catalyst propelling the global birdwatching tourism market is the increasing participation in citizen science and conservation-led initiatives. This trend has evolved solitary observation into a collective, data-centric pursuit where enthusiasts travel to specific regions to contribute to global biodiversity databases. Gamified mobile platforms incentivize travel to under-surveyed remote areas, directly benefiting conservation bodies and local tourism operators that depend on this data. As evidence of this scale, Global Birding reported in October 2025 that the October Big Day event mobilized over 870,000 participants worldwide to record avian sightings via digital platforms. This mobilized base of citizen scientists represents a reliable market segment that actively seeks ornithological tours to aid conservation efforts while adding unique species to their life lists.

A second major driver is the expansion of specialized ecotourism infrastructure and luxury lodging, which enables destinations to capture significant high-value tourism revenue. Regions with high avian diversity are increasingly investing in bird-centric amenities, such as photography hides, canopy towers, and expert-led festivals, to encourage longer stays and higher spending from affluent travelers. For example, the National Audubon Society reported in February 2025 that birders visiting the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area during the 2024 spring migration generated an estimated $53 million in local economic impact. On a global scale, the financial weight of this sector is immense; according to the Wild Bird Feeding Institute in December 2024, birders contribute an estimated $107.6 billion annually through travel and equipment expenditures, underscoring the niche's critical economic importance.

Market Challenges

Climate change and habitat degradation fundamentally threaten the core asset of the birdwatching tourism market by eroding the avian biodiversity that attracts travelers. As ecosystems destabilize, the frequency and predictability of sightings for high-value species diminish, directly undermining the quality of the tourism product. This environmental volatility makes it difficult for tour operators to guarantee sightings, leading to potential consumer dissatisfaction and increased operational costs as companies must invest more resources to locate dispersing populations. Consequently, the reliability of established birding routes weakens, complicating efforts for destinations to maintain their competitive appeal to high-spending enthusiasts who demand premium wildlife encounters.

Furthermore, the rapid contraction of bird populations creates a shrinking inventory for the industry, posing a tangible risk to future revenue streams. When the primary attraction becomes scarce, the value proposition of specialized tours declines, potentially stalling new market entry and suppressing repeat bookings. The scale of this biological disruption is critical; the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals reported in 2024 that nearly 44 percent of migratory species globally were in decline. This significant reduction in migratory populations directly impacts the viability of migration-focused tourism packages and seasonal birding festivals, signaling a long-term constriction of the market's foundational resources.

Market Trends

The surge in specialized bird photography expeditions is fundamentally reshaping tour operations, with participants increasingly demanding itineraries designed for artistic capture rather than simple species enumeration. This trend compels operators to employ guides with technical photographic expertise and to schedule longer stays at specific sites to optimize lighting conditions, moving away from the traditional rapid-fire identification model. Illustrating this intense engagement with avian imagery, Popular Science noted in March 2025 that the 2025 British Wildlife Photography Awards received more than 13,000 submissions, highlighting the expanding global interest in high-quality wildlife documentation which drives the demand for these niche logistical services.

Simultaneously, the mainstreaming of casual and short-duration birding trips is democratizing the market, shifting the center of gravity from remote biodiversity hotspots to accessible local environments. This evolution is driven by a new cohort of enthusiasts who prioritize convenience and low-barrier engagement, often integrating birding into daily routines or weekend getaways rather than committing to extended specialized travel. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 'Birdwatching in America' report from December 2024, approximately 91 million individuals engaged in birding from their homes, representing 95 percent of all participants. This underscores the massive scale of this localized, casual enthusiast base that serves as the primary target for urban and day-trip avitourism packages.

Key Players Profiled in the Birdwatching Tourism Market

• Hurtigruten Group AS
• Eagle-Eye Tours
• Birding Ecotours, LLC
• Tropical Birding Tours S.A.
• Rockjumper Birding Ltd.
• Sabrewing Nature Tours
• High Lonesome Bird Tours
• Field Guides Incorporated
• The Natural Travel Collection Ltd.
• Wings Birding Tours

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Birdwatching Tourism Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Birdwatching Tourism Market, by Traveler Type:

• Hard Core Birders
• Enthusiastic Birders
• Casual Birders

Birdwatching Tourism Market, by Age Group:

• 18-34 Years
• 35-54 Years
• 55-64 Years
• 65+ Years

Birdwatching Tourism Market, by Group:

• Solo
• Couples
• Family
• Groups

Birdwatching Tourism Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Birdwatching Tourism Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.