How are we transitioning to regenerative tourism?

During the April 30, 2024 event, organized by the Local Hands Network and attended by a large audience of more than 200 people, the fundamentals and implications of regenerative tourism were explored in depth. This meeting was not only an opportunity to reflect on the current state of tourism, but also to envision a horizon of more sustainable and transformative practices.

Featured speakers, including Bianca Bodero of Once Journeys for Women, Manuel Miroglio of Reconextour, David Leventhal of Regenerative Travel, Karla Rivera and Mauricio Miramontes of La Mano del Mono, shared their perspectives and experiences regarding regenerative tourism. From different fields and approaches, each contributed valuable arguments that enriched the debate and provided a more complete vision of this new trend in the tourism industry.

Regenerative Tourism, a paradigm?

In the words of David Leventhal of Regenerative Travel, this paradigm shift involves adopting a whole systems thinking approach, which recognizes the interconnections between nature, culture and society. It is a move towards a more comprehensive and holistic view of tourism, where the interaction between humans and nature is addressed in an integrated manner.

The event also served as a platform for sharing the results of research and projects related to regenerative tourism. Efforts to document and disseminate best practices, as well as to foster collaboration between different stakeholders in the tourism sector, were highlighted.

One of the central points discussed during the event was the need to go beyond the traditional conception of sustainability in tourism. It was stressed that regenerative tourism implies not only minimizing the negative impact of tourism activity, but also actively contributing to the regeneration and revitalization of ecosystems, local communities and cultures.

Concrete examples of successful projects applying regenerative tourism principles were presented, demonstrating how these practices can generate tangible benefits in terms of environmental conservation, local economic development and community empowerment. From the creation of nature reserves to the promotion of culturally sensitive tourism activities, it was shown that regenerative tourism can be a powerful tool to promote integral sustainability.

In addition, the importance of adopting a holistic and collaborative approach in the planning and management of tourism destinations was emphasized. It was emphasized that the success of regenerative tourism depends to a large extent on the active participation of local communities and close collaboration between the different stakeholders in the tourism sector, including governments, businesses and non-governmental organizations.

The Local Hands Network provided a unique platform to explore and discuss the opportunities and challenges of regenerative tourism. Beyond being a mere conference, this meeting represented an important step towards building a more responsible, inclusive and sustainable tourism for the future. Listen to the recording of the event: