A growing trend that is taking ecotourism to the next level, regenerative travel is gaining traction among travelers and hospitality providers looking to address the environmental and social challenges posed by mass tourism.
While sustainable tourism typically focuses on conserving resources and mitigating negative impacts, regenerative tourism aims to restore and regenerate the natural and social environments affected by travel. This approach encourages both hospitality partners and visitors to participate in activities that contribute to the health of the region’s environment and economy.
But it’s not about solving big problems overnight. Nor is it a flashy but shallow nod to sustainability. In this form of tourism, travelers directly participate in efforts to enhance the attractiveness of the destination, such as volunteering in the afternoon or participating in educational projects that inform guests about the local ecosystem and promote tourist understanding and support. The focus is on small-scale travel experiences. Go deeper into your destination.
A focus on keeping scale and impact low may limit the scalability of regenerative tourism, raising questions about how widely it can be adopted across the travel industry.
“This question is at the heart of the debate around regenerative tourism: how does it work at scale, especially as we seek to refocus on quality rather than quantity?” said Ben Martin, Economics Practice Director, Advisor, and Principal, Global. architecture and design company HKS. “This inevitably raises questions about capacity and how much visitation is generally allowed.”
Martin points out that destination management systems, such as the U.S. National Park Service, are recognizing this challenge and that apps and other enhanced technologies are making this type of proactive visitor management more accessible than ever before. He added that it should be much more achievable.
“In some ways, it is easier to see how regenerative tourism principles apply to destinations that are just beginning to develop compared to destinations that are already mature and built,” Martin said. says. “The challenges of each case need to be considered within a context-specific framework.”
From Canada to New Zealand, many hospitality properties are already implementing regeneration efforts such as restoring local habitats, and many are encouraging active guest participation. With that in mind, here are 10 resorts and hotels that offer regenerative travel programs that can positively impact local ecosystems and communities.