While often used interchangeably, there are actually a number of differences between sustainable and regenerative tourism.
To put it succinctly, regenerative tourism is the next phase that follows once measures for sustainable tourism are in place.
It calls for actively restoring destination environments by renewing the area’s natural resources and revitalising resident communities.
As such, regenerative tourism calls upon professionals and travellers alike to leave places better than they were found.
In today’s feature, we take a look at three core tenets of regenerative tourism and how these work to change the way we travel.
An action plan for regeneration
Before we go further, keep this core principle in mind: regenerative tourism prioritises long-term, holistic health for both people and nature.
In which case, activities and initiatives related to it seek to establish deeper, more authentic connections between visitors and hosts.
The three things to keep in mind are as follows:
Giving back to nature and host communities
Consider this: sustainable tourism revolves around a do no harm mindset focused on mitigating or minimising damage to the environment.
Regenerative tourism, on the other hand, is active rather than passive; seeking to heal damaged ecosystems whilst restoring communities impacted by less-than-ethical tourism practices.
That said, activities involve the enhancement of local biodiversity, boosting the livelihood of resident communities, and revitalising spent resources through organic agriculture, reforestation, and similar initiatives.
Stewardship for local communities
Empowerment is one of the key concepts governing regenerative tourism.
In this case, it refers to giving agency to host communities, making them the primary decision makers as well as agents of meaningful change.
It takes into consideration the community’s long-term vision for itself and its people as opposed to treating them like mere service providers or, worse, human backdrops for tourists looking for the perfect shot.
Regenerative tourism delves deeper, laying down the foundations for future community development, the preservation of local culture, and the overall welfare of residents.
Living connections
Finally, regenerative tourism sees destinations as living, thriving, and interconnected systems.
In such a scenario, the social, economic, and environmental health of a destination are all entwined and interdependent.
As such, regenerative tourism seeks to establish and maintain transformative, respectful, and meaningful connections among all the stakeholders involved in the process, as well as the surrounding environment.
