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What is regenerative travel? And how does it build on a foundation of sustainability?
After the lockdown during the pandemic, the word “regenerative travel" started getting on people’s lips, as the travel eruptions in some cities started to show improvements by e.g. decreasing pollution.
This was evident in for instance Venice, where they experienced the normally cloudy canals turned clearer. Accordingly, regenerative travel entered the landscape as a tourism goal for the destinations to keep nurturing their places when travelers returned.
Jeremy Sampson, chair of the Future of Tourism Coalition and CEO of the Travel Foundation, has explained regenerative travel as follows:
“When tourism adds value to a destination, by enhancing the quality of life of residents and the health of the ecosystem, it can be considered regenerative”
To participate in regenerative travel, it is therefore necessary to give more to the planet and the local communities, than we take. Thus, regenerative travel is not about traveling with a minimum impact on the environment, but about giving back even more. In that way, regenerative travel is not synonymous with sustainable travel, it rather builds upon a foundation of sustainable tourism, because it is not just about traveling in a way that can be maintained without harming places and communities. Instead, it’s about travelling in a way that will benefit the destination and its people.
How to ensure a regenerative future
To guide the tourism industry into a more regenerative future, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council has published a list of 13 principles which can guide governments, tour operators and businesses. These include:
1. See the whole picture
2. Use sustainability standards
3. Collaborate in destination management
4. Choose quality over quantity
5. Demand fair income distribution
6. Reduce tourism's burden
7. Redefine economic success
8. Mitigate climate impacts
9. Close the loop on resources
10. Contain tourism's land use
11. Diversify source markets
12. Protect sense of place
13. Operate business responsibly
Regenerative travel and Nordic travelers
A study conducted by VisitDenmark in 2022, also indicate that both Norwegian and Swedish travelers think it is important to leave a better impact when traveling. Here, 81% Swedish travelers and 75% Norwegians stated that they found it important that their consumption benefits the locals*.
Meanwhile data from Travellyze show that 7.5% Nordic travelers have supported an environmental or biodiversity conservation project, which is an increase of 44.8% since 2021. Similarly, 5.9% has supported a social conservation project, which is an increase of 31.7% since 2021. Thus, the Nordic travelers are also showing an increasing interest and willingness in travelling in a more regenerative manner.
*VisitDenmark (2022) Turisme og bæredygtighed på de fire nærmarkeder. Available at: www.visitdenmark.dk/corporate/videncenter.
Jeremy Sampson, chair of the Future of Tourism Coalition and CEO of the Travel Foundation, has explained regenerative travel as follows:
“When tourism adds value to a destination, by enhancing the quality of life of residents and the health of the ecosystem, it can be considered regenerative”
To participate in regenerative travel, it is therefore necessary to give more to the planet and the local communities, than we take. Thus, regenerative travel is not about traveling with a minimum impact on the environment, but about giving back even more. In that way, regenerative travel is not synonymous with sustainable travel, it rather builds upon a foundation of sustainable tourism, because it is not just about traveling in a way that can be maintained without harming places and communities. Instead, it’s about travelling in a way that will benefit the destination and its people.
How to ensure a regenerative future
To guide the tourism industry into a more regenerative future, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council has published a list of 13 principles which can guide governments, tour operators and businesses. These include:
1. See the whole picture
2. Use sustainability standards
3. Collaborate in destination management
4. Choose quality over quantity
5. Demand fair income distribution
6. Reduce tourism's burden
7. Redefine economic success
8. Mitigate climate impacts
9. Close the loop on resources
10. Contain tourism's land use
11. Diversify source markets
12. Protect sense of place
13. Operate business responsibly
Regenerative travel and Nordic travelers
A study conducted by VisitDenmark in 2022, also indicate that both Norwegian and Swedish travelers think it is important to leave a better impact when traveling. Here, 81% Swedish travelers and 75% Norwegians stated that they found it important that their consumption benefits the locals*.
Meanwhile data from Travellyze show that 7.5% Nordic travelers have supported an environmental or biodiversity conservation project, which is an increase of 44.8% since 2021. Similarly, 5.9% has supported a social conservation project, which is an increase of 31.7% since 2021. Thus, the Nordic travelers are also showing an increasing interest and willingness in travelling in a more regenerative manner.
*VisitDenmark (2022) Turisme og bæredygtighed på de fire nærmarkeder. Available at: www.visitdenmark.dk/corporate/videncenter.