To preserve or enhance?. An analysis of Regenerative vs Sustainable Tourism

Globally, tourism is one of the world’s largest industries; prior to the pandemic, Travel & Tourism (including industries, directly and indirectly, dependent on tourism such as hospitality) accounted for 1 in 4 of all new jobs created across the world, 10.3% of all jobs and 10.3% of global GDP (US$9.6 trillion). At the same time, visitor spending contributed an estimated US$1.8 trillion in 2019 (6.8% of total exports) (GSTC, 2022).

While tourism is a major source of revenue, livelihood, and commerce for millions, recent years have drawn attention in particular to the effects of conventional tourism. Impacts have focused on pollution, environmental degradation, disruption to local communities, and overexploitation of resources in host destinations (GSTC, 2022). In the wake of the climate crises and SDGs, the onus on tourism to respect environmental and social boundaries has increased. Such a context has inevitably led to debates on Sustainable Tourism and regenerative tourism.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?

Sustainable tourism is defined by the UN Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organization as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities“.

So, what are the main pillars of Sustainable Tourism? The WEF (World Economic Forum) classifies Sustainable Tourism on 10 principles.

1) Destination Sustainability

2) Development of Work-Force,

3) Prioritization of Communities

4) Alignment of the Visitor Experience

5) Protection of Heritage

6) Protection of Nature

7) Responsible Production and Consumption

8) Calibration of Infrastructure

9) Effective Governance

10) Development of Resilience.

As mentioned earlier tourist arrivals have grown exponentially from 200 million in the 1970s to 1.6 Billion in 2019 (WEF, 2021). This has led to immense job creation and economic development in destination countries. Yet, it has come with its fair share of pollution, environmental degradation, and overexploitation of habitats, communities, and societies (WEF, 2021). The need to conduct tourism responsibly with specific attention paid to its social, economic, and environmental consequences has become ever more necessary.  This includes paying attention to issues of thoughtful and inclusive destination management, regulating tourism demand, inducing behavioral change, focus on the well-being of residents and Indigenous communities, developing local attractions, skills, and small and medium-sized enterprises,  equitable distribution of the benefits of tourism, proper social security, development of a resource-aware circular economy that respects planetary boundaries and the development of sustainable infrastructure and policy environment that supports sustainable practices (WEF, 2021).

Discussion & Critique

While advocating for the sustainability of destinations and the environment and people of those who inhabit it, the term has come under the following criticism. While emphasizing the sustainability of tourism resources, no due attention has yet been paid to tourist demand, especially at the destination level, where a continuous flow of tourists cannot be taken for granted though this might be the case at the global level (Liu, 2003). When discussing resource sustainability, it is often limited to the preservation and conservation of resources and fails to appreciate systemic changes required to make tourism more sustainable and the role of the tourist in contributing towards sustainability (Liu, 2003).

Intergenerational equity has been emphasized, but intra-generational equity, including its distribution among stakeholder groups in tourism development, has not been adequately addressed or discussed (Liu, 2003). Where such attempts were made and community involvement was advocated, many writers failed to recognize that the host population is often not empowered to take control of the development process (Liu, 2003).   The methods and instruments prescribed for achieving sustainable tourism are often fraught with simplistic or naïve views. Many tour operators, policy-makers, and researchers enthusiastically promote ecotourism but overlook conducting it on a scalable and feasible level (Liu, 2003).

WHAT IS REGENERATIVE TOURISM?

If sustainable tourism, intends to counterbalance the social and environmental impacts of tourism “Regenerative Tourism” aims to leave a destination better than when tourists visited it. The term “regenerative tourism” has emerged against the backdrop of COVID-19 and the adverse environmental, social, and economic impacts of mass tourism. The aim of regenerative tourism is to enrich the communities that stand to benefit from tourism and contribute to the flourishing of their environments. While sustainable tourism aims to minimize negative impacts or maintain the existing harmony of the environment and communities, regenerative tourism intends to augment the destination in some way. Certain countries like Slovenia are New Zealand are already putting this to action.  

Examples of Regenerative Tourism in Action

Playa Viva, a small resort south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, on the Pacific Coast, features stunning beaches, bird-filled estuaries, and ancient ruins. Ultimately, the town next to the resort is an organic agricultural property benefiting both the property and local residents; and a 2 percent fee added to any stay funds a trust that invests in community development.

How Regenerative Travel Supports Communities and Environments

Playa Viva is one of 45 resorts belonging to Regenerative Travel, a booking agency that vets members based on metrics such as carbon usage, employee well-being, immersive guest activities, and sourcing local food. In other words, Regenerative Tourism is based on the obligation that governments, tourism organizations, and visitors owe to the environment, society, and culture of the destinations that they promote or visit. Regenerative tourism offers an important set of solutions to rethink and rebuild the tourism industry. It also improves local economies and preserves local cultures and biodiversity while offering memorable, authentic life-changing experiences to the guests and allowing destinations to improve.

Discussion & Critique

Regenerative Tourism has been hailed as the solution to the issues that plague modern-day tourism. It addresses the shortcomings of Sustainable Tourism by focusing on the complexity of environmental and social ecosystems rather than limiting itself to a select set of criteria and emphasizing augmentation over mere maintenance. Regenerative Tourism draws upon the role of environmental and social responsibility of tourists and the tourism sector to serve the environment instead of minimizing damage. Critiques around regenerative tourism have centered around it being a “Re-branding of Sustainable Tourism”. Critics have pointed out the ambiguity in the definition and its application to destinations.

 
TO SUSTAIN OR IMPROVE?

At a time when the emphasis on the Green Transition has been particularly great in all facets of social, economic, and environmental life, tourism is no exception. Focus on making the Tourism Industry more eco-friendly, resource-efficient, and beneficial to communities and societies has become particularly intense. Fundamental to understanding the role of Sustainable Tourism and Regenerative Tourism is also understanding the importance of the UN-SDGs for the larger society (UN-CSD, 2001). Strategies to promote them include the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small- and medium-sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, Indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential and establishment of guidelines for tourists and operators to conduct environment-friendly tourism that enriches societies and communities (UN-CSD, 2001).

Both sustainable and regenerative tourism emphasize the obligation of Governments, Businesses, and Tourists to contribute towards protecting and improving the environment and communities of the destinations they promote or visit. Maintenance and Improvement often go hand in hand, particularly in regions and destinations where people are dependent on their environment for their livelihoods. In such a context, both maintenance and improvement are necessary for societies and environments to thrive.

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