Making a positive impact as you travel: what is regenerative tourism?

Regenerative tourism – heard of it? It’s a relatively new term in the travel industry, but quickly gaining traction as tourism looks to envision ‘the next step on’ from sustainability. With regenerative tourism, travelers and travel facilitators can look to give back to the places we visit, not only minimizing negative impact (as sustainable travel puts focus on) but creating positive impact – on culture, the environment and local economies. Read on as we explain in more detail how regenerative tourism can make big moves towards travel for a better world.

Why is regenerative tourism important?

Just as sustainable tourism has been at the forefront of travel ‘trends’ in recent years, regenerative tourism looks to pave the way for an even more impactful travel movement. The word ‘regenerative’ itself means to keep rebuilding as new; in a self-restoring cycle. In this way, regenerative tourism isn’t static, but always producing and giving back. This is so important to travel because in today’s world, we must do more than just curb the potential damage tourism causes; we need to bring action and intention to our travel decisions.

Regenerative vs sustainable tourism

So what’s the difference between regenerative and sustainable tourism? If we see sustainable tourism as the first and important stage of ‘a green travel movement’, regenerative tourism is the necessary second stage.

Sustainable tourism is a response to the destructive impacts of tourism (to the environment, economies, communities, traditions and culture) and looks to mitigate those negative effects. In simple terms, we do this by minimizing our carbon footprint, being mindful of the resources we use, ‘leaving no trace’, and being sure our presence doesn’t harm communities and ecosystems. Sustainable tourism makes an effort to maintain and protect the status quo in a location, rather than contribute to its degradation.

Regenerative tourism goes further than the ‘conserving’ that sustainable tourism promotes, and instead seeks ways to actively improve the places we visit. It asks how we can use tourism to intentionally protect the places we visit and help them flourish. How can we not just leave a place as we found it, but leave it better than we found it?

In some ways, regenerative travel is more action-based than sustainable travel. In a metaphorical sense, rather than tiptoeing a path around a flower-filled meadow to minimize crushing the plants (sustainable), you would water the flowers and plant more as you walk (regenerative). Put simply, rather than carefully observing, your presence as a visitor to the meadow would play a key part in its continuation and improvement.

Read more: How to tick off your travel bucket list in a responsible way

The benefits of regenerative tourism

Let’s chat more about the potential cultural, environmental and economic benefits of regenerative tourism to the communities around the world.

Preserving and enhancing cultural heritage

Though the intrinsic local cultures of a destination are often a draw for tourism, traditional tourism can be corrosive to that same cultural heritage. Globalization and capitalism, boosted by high tourist numbers, often pushes locally-produced art, music, cuisine and business to one side, and the area’s authentic heritage fades out. The cultural experiences that are left can become false and contrived, constructed purely for tourist entertainment.

Conversely, regenerative tourism encourages travelers to deeply engage with and respect local cultures. Rather than commodifying local traditions as entertainment for tourists, it supports authentic cultural exchange. By appreciating, learning and investing into truly indigenous art, music, cuisine, business and storytelling, regenerative tourism helps preserve traditions that might otherwise be phased out by overtourism. Community-led tourism initiatives also mean the locals are empowered over how their heritage is shared. Overall, the exchange between locals and tourists becomes more balanced and ethical.

Read more: Making a difference: how to engage positively with local communities

Protecting and restoring the natural environment

Regenerative tourism looks to protect and restore areas of natural significance; wilderness sites which are at risk of being degraded and destroyed by an excess of visitors. While traditional tourism means higher levels of pollution, habitat destruction and a strain on natural resources, and sustainable tourism may seek to observe these sites at a distance; regenerative tourism aims to give back to nature and improve the cycle of natural restoration, almost by having tourists become part of the site rather than exist outside of it.

This could mean staying in eco-friendly accommodations, joining conservation projects, or choosing travel companies that actively give back to the surroundings (e.g., reforestation efforts, marine conservation trips, or carbon offset programs). As explained, the goal is not just to reduce harm but to actively improve ecosystems, ensuring future generations can enjoy these landscapes too.

Contributing to local economic growth

Unlike traditional tourism which is somewhat of a free-for-all in terms of where money is funneled, regenerative tourism directs money into the hands of local businesses, rather than faceless, international corporations. Choosing family-owned accommodations, eating at locally-run restaurants and booking with community-led tour operators ensures that tourism dollars stay within the community, creating long-term economic stability for the local people. This also fosters entrepreneurship and job opportunities, so reduces economic dependence on unsustainable mass tourism.

Social improvements: quality of life and community wellbeing

Often neglected by mainstream tourism is the long-term social relationship between ‘locals’ and ‘tourists’. Resentment can build in areas where traditional, unethical tourist activity has led to the locals being pushed out economically, and not being the beneficiaries of tourist-driven funds. Regenerative tourism aims to correct this, creating tourist experiences that build relationships, boost education, and improve the quality of life and wellbeing of the local communities, leading them to be welcoming of visitors and keen to share their way of life.

For instance, in a coastal town where tourism has led to the displacement of local residents, more ethical tourist experiences could include: cooking classes led by local chefs, guided nature walks with a local coastal expert, or art workshops where tourists pay directly to the artist, or contribute to the upkeep of their gallery or work space. These kinds of experiences build positive connections between locals and tourists which improves the social atmosphere on both sides.

Practical advice for regenerative travel experiences

Below are some practical tips for engaging in regenerative travel, so that you can have more immersive experiences while helping to restore and enrich the people and places you visit.

1. Choose accommodations that give back

Look for places to stay that directly benefit the local community; accommodations that employ locals, preserve local ways of life and offer guests the chance to partake in nature-based programs, such as reforestation activities and wildlife and marine conservation efforts in the local area.

Read more: Eco-friendly stays: what is sustainable accommodation?

2. Engage in experiences led by locals

Participate in cultural workshops (like art or cooking classes), visit artisanal markets, join nature conservation tours and indigenous-led hikes – activities that help foster mutual respect and allow you to give back to the community you’re visiting.

3. Spend with local businesses with similar values

As well as supporting local businesses, try to focus on those that are actively ‘regenerating’ in their communities. This could include buying from local artisans who use traditional, sustainable methods, or eating at restaurants that source organic and regenerative food. Your money is powerful; use it to support businesses that also care about the social and environmental health of the area.

4. Think beyond ‘leave no trace’ when it comes to the environment

Regenerative tourism asks you to go beyond the concept of ‘leaving no trace’; think of it as leaving the place better than you found it. In addition to reducing waste and respecting wildlife, consider contributing to more impactful projects during your travels, like helping to plant trees or participating in beach clean-ups or wildlife conservation efforts.

5. Be an advocate

Regenerative tourism isn’t just about what you do during your trip; it’s also about spreading the word. Advocate for regenerative practices by sharing your experiences and encouraging others to travel with a purpose.

Make it happen

To find out more about the benefits of regenerative travel, feel free to get in touch with us at TravelLocal. We can discuss with you which of our local travel partners is best equipped to organize a custom-made trip based on immersive, regenerative activities.