TUI FORESTS PROGRAMME

The planting of trees is creating TUI Forests around the world, which are establishing new natural habitats and giving holidaymakers and local people the opportunity to rediscover the natural environment of the forest.
As part of the TUI Forests programme, new trees are planted, creating new natural habitats. Surrounding communities are supported in developing new sources of income through jointly managed tree planting initiatives and educational and excursion programmes.

The TUI Care Foundation’s TUI Forests programme achieved its ambitious goal of planting 5 million trees in just two years in 2025! But that’s not all we’ve achieved together:

  • More than 2,000 jobs have been supported
  • 59 endangered species have received support
  • 30 tree nurseries run by the local population have been supported
  • 6 nature-based tourism experiences have been developed

Call for applications

We now want to double this target by 2030 by supporting further large and small reforestation projects in key tourism regions. If all of the following questions apply to you, we look forward to receiving your application.

  • Does your organisation contribute to the protection and restoration of forests?
  • Does your organisation see the potential of tourism as a driver of sustainable development?
  • Does your organisation want to multiply its impact?

The TUI Forests Programme offers the opportunity to support forest conservation initiatives that achieve the following impacts:

  1. Expanded protection and restoration of forest areas and habitats – measured by the number of trees planted and the square metres of area protected
  2. Protection of endangered species – measured by the number of protected and endangered species
  3. Increased support for communities near protected areas – measured by the number of jobs supported and the number of people involved
  4. Increase in the number of participants in nature-based tourism experiences – Measured by the number of local and international holidaymakers and participating schoolchildren

The selected holiday destinations were chosen based on various criteria. An important factor is the high demand for these destinations, but also the significant importance of tourism for the economy. This makes them important destinations for the TUI Care Foundation.

Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Vietnam, Tanzania, Cambodia, Thailand, Spain, South Africa, Philippines, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, Dominican Republic, Greece, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Morocco, Jamaica, Albania, Tunisia, Senegal, Cyprus, Mauritius, Egypt, Namibia, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Cape Verde, Maldives, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba

We accept applications from large organisations if you

  • represent a local or international organisation
  • plant more than 150,000 trees per year
  • plant in several countries or regions

Learn about our flagship projects in the Dominican Republic and Peru

We accept applications from small organisations if they

  • represent a local, community-led organisation
  • plant fewer than 50,000 trees per year

Learn about our flagship project in Zanzibar

Funding from 10,000€ to 150,000€ per year

Projects running for at least 24 months

Eligible costs:

  • Direct costs related to activities that increase forest area growth or improve the environmental, social and economic benefits associated with the tourism value chain for the local population in the destination
  • Local visibility and communication
  • Consultancy and/or personnel costs necessary for the implementation of the above activities, up to 30% of the total budget costs
  • Administrative costs are limited to a maximum of 10%
  • Other costs directly related to activities and results
  • We cannot award funds for the purchase of land, the rental of land or territories, real estate or high capital expenditure on tangible economic goods. This may vary depending on the context and the project activities and objectives.

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Project proposals for our TUI Forests programme can be submitted throughout the year, and applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. For 2025, priority will be given to applications that submit a detailed proposal.

Please note that we can only contact selected organisations.

Application process:

  1. Find out more about our initiatives on the TUI Forest Programme website
  2. Submit your project proposal using the Google form
  3. Selected organisations will be contacted and invited to an initial meeting to discuss a possible partnership
  4. After a successful meeting, we will ask you to submit a detailed project proposal via our Optimy platform
  5. After at least two rounds of evaluation, our board of trustees will decide on the final funding

Important dates

  • 10 February 2025: Start of the call for proposals as part of ‘Forest February’
  • 1 November 2025: Deadline for submitting an application
  • Please refer to our Terms of Reference (in English) for further details.
  • Terms of Reference

  • Applicant organisations must be officially registered
  • Projects should be implemented in tourist destinations
  • The proposed measures and projects should be of high quality and relevant to the selected destinations
  • The experience and expertise of the implementing organisations play an important role (e.g. successful implementation of similar projects in the last three years, use of funding, connection to the tourism sector).
  • It is considered positive if applicants coordinate their measures with other groups and initiatives in order to achieve a greater impact – whether through networks, formal cooperation or strategic partnerships.
  • The cost-benefit ratio should be proportionate to the objectives of the TUI Forest Programme