Abstract
Abstract
Youth represent one of the tourist sectors with the highest rate of growth. The active engagement of young leaders in the field of ecotourism not only embodies their commitment to safeguarding the planet but also shows their capacity to drive transformative change. This essay delves into the vital role of youth leadership in ecotourism, exploring the ways in which young individuals contribute to innovative approaches, community empowerment, and sustainable practices that are shaping the future of both travel and environmental conservation. The method used in this study is involving primary observation and empirical data gathering. This study shows some roles and benefits of youth as leader in ecotourism sector, such as; 1) promoting responsible travel, 2) stimulate innovation, 3) amplifying awareness, 4) inspiring longterm change, 5) fostering creativity, 6) driving passion and energy, 7) bridging generation gap, 8) attracting younger base, 9) leveraging digital engagement, and 10) promoting continuous learning. This paper also shows challenges faced by young leader that they are lacking of experience, have limited resources, and have gap in industry versus in-class knowledge.