Concept of regenerative tourism
Regenerative tourism is a territorial development approach that seeks to understand how tourism can help strengthen the relationships among people, communities, nature, culture, the economy and institutions.
It is not a new tourism segment, a certification or a specific type of experience. Nor should it be reduced to nature tourism, volunteering or environmental offsetting.
For the Aupaba Institute, tourism becomes regenerative when the territory is no longer organized primarily around the needs of the visitor and begins, instead, with the place itself: its history, its people, its knowledge, its relationships, its limits and its possibilities for the future.
In this context, tourism is a tool for development — not an end in itself.
When well planned, it can strengthen local economies, generate opportunities, support conservation, value cultural heritage, preserve knowledge and stimulate entrepreneurship. But it can also concentrate income, put pressure on ecosystems, erode cultures and deepen inequalities when it grows without planning, participation and governance.
For this reason, the Aupaba Institute understands sustainable tourism, responsible tourism and regenerative tourism as complementary dimensions.
Sustainable tourism provides an essential foundation by considering the present and future economic, social and environmental impacts of the activity. This understanding is embedded in UN Tourism’s own approach to sustainable tourism development.
Responsible tourism adds the dimension of decision-making and accountability: who creates a given impact, who is affected by it and what responsibility companies, governments, visitors and other actors assume for its consequences. The Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism has become an international reference by linking tourism to local participation, the distribution of benefits and the creation of better places to live in and visit.
Regenerative tourism extends this perspective by asking: what relationships and capacities need to be rebuilt or strengthened so that tourism can effectively contribute to the territory’s future?
Sustainability helps us understand limits and reduce impacts. Responsibility guides choices and behavior. Regeneration works on the relationships and conditions required for transformation.
These approaches do not replace one another. Truly regenerative tourism must also be sustainable and responsible.
But regeneration recognizes something more: territories do not necessarily begin from a state of balance.
A destination can grow economically while a significant share of its income leaves the territory. A culture can become an important tourism asset without the people who preserve it participating proportionally in the value generated. Ancestral knowledge can be incorporated into visitor experiences without proper recognition of those who hold it.
For this reason, regenerative tourism also involves economic justice, participation, identity, ancestry, diversity and the distribution of opportunities.
Cultures, landscapes and knowledge existed before the visitor arrived and will continue to exist after the visitor leaves. A regenerative approach seeks to prevent the place from being reduced to a product for consumption and recognizes communities as agents of development.
At the Aupaba Institute, this means understanding the territory before designing tourism products, routes or experiences.
This perspective is present in Viver Territórios, which connects community-based tourism, entrepreneurship, identity and the local economy, and in Regenerando Territórios – Pará, which brings together tourism, Amazonian culture, traditional communities, bioeconomy and conservation within a broader territorial development strategy.
It also informs our work in urban communities, where tourism, culture, education, entrepreneurship and inclusion can be articulated according to the characteristics and capacities of each place.
This practical experience underpins an important position of the Aupaba Institute: regenerative tourism cannot become merely another market label.
The debate on regenerative design as a strategy for tourism must lead to changes in how value, opportunities, decisions and responsibilities are distributed across territories.
This discussion directly concerns hotels, tour operators, airlines, concession operators, investors, platforms, destinations and other organizations throughout the tourism value chain. A regenerative strategy must examine not only what an organization communicates, but also how it purchases, hires, invests, uses resources, relates to communities and distributes value.
The role of the Aupaba Institute is to help translate these principles into practice.
From project design through implementation and accountability, we structure initiatives capable of integrating territorial development, sustainability, responsibility, participation and measurable impact.
For us, therefore, regenerative tourism is not measured only by the quality of the visitor experience.
It must also be assessed by what remains for those who live in the territory: stronger capacities, more balanced relationships, better-distributed opportunities, strengthened biocultural heritage and greater participation in shaping their own future.
Our tips for choosing a regenerative destination:
Seek information about the sustainable and regenerative practices adopted by the destination regarding the environment, local community, and culture. You don’t want to leave home to have the same experiences, right?
Look for destinations that have recognized sustainability certifications or labels, which guarantee the adoption of responsible practices. Refer to global and unbiased institutions for guidance.
Check if the destination implements measures to conserve biodiversity, reduce the consumption of natural resources, promote recycling, and proper waste management. It’s not easy, but we can perceive when the destination is concerned about these issues. Evaluate and provide feedback to all professionals in the industry with whom you interact. Show your interest in improving the visited place!
Choose destinations that value local culture, promote social inclusion, and provide fair economic benefits to the community. It’s a shame when visitors close themselves off and don’t get to know the local reality. When this happens, it’s usually because the destination needs to make more effort to ensure effective interaction between visitors and the local community. Give it a try, as you might fall in love with the possibilities that can arise from these encounters!
Look for hotels, resorts, and tour operators that adopt sustainable practices, such as the use of renewable energy, efficient water management, and policies to reduce carbon emissions. Demand answers if necessary! We believe that feedback is always a way to guide the industry to be more conscious and proactive.
Opt for destinations that encourage fair trade, promote the production and consumption of local products, directly benefiting the local economy. As such, buy local products to take home, include visits to local markets, organizations, associations, and artisans’ workshops in your itinerary. We also recommend exploring shops and businesses frequented by locals.
Give preference to destinations that offer efficient public transportation options, promote the use of bicycles or walking, and reduce dependence on motorized vehicles.
Choose destinations that offer opportunities to visit environmental conservation projects or support the local community, contributing directly to the regeneration of the destination. In this case, it is ideal to communicate your intention to the agency to visit organizations whose causes align with your interests.
Opt for destinations that provide clear information about their sustainable practices, enabling tourists to make conscious and informed choices. This type of demand can raise awareness throughout the local production chain, bringing benefits.
Choose destinations that promote environmental education programs for tourists, aiming to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of sustainability and regeneration.