12 Nov What’s the difference between sustainable tourism and regenerative tourism?
Looking at the definitions of the terms “sustainable tourism” and “regenerative tourism”, you may be hard-pressed to see a difference. And the outcomes, if implemented as originally envisioned, would be similar.
In some ways, the excitement for regenerative approaches is a reaction to what sustainability has become to a large group of people. For many, sustainability has become a set of things to do not to make things worse. It is perceived to bounded by specific sets of criteria. For many, the term “sustainability” lacks inspiration – to sustain is not as inspirational as to regenerate. This is true across society – not just in tourism.
In some ways, the real difference is in attitude and intention. If sustainability is about not making things worse, then regenerative is about making things better. The language we use is different – where sustainability is about optimization and maximization, the regenerative movement talks about thriving and flourishing.
In some ways, the term sustainability is getting a bad rap. Sustainable tourism certainly intends for destination communities to thrive and flourish. We just haven’t talked about it that way. John Elkington, a thought leader and the person who termed the phrase, “triple bottom line”, embraces the regenerative movement as an important new way to think about sustainability, building on the learnings and progress of the past.
Words matter. It’s also worth noting that the term “regenerative” is not saddled with some of the baggage associated with “sustainability”. Folks that would dismiss “sustainability” as not for them because of political opinions or worldview, can embrace regenerative activities and recognize them as good for their communities.
It is clear the energy and enthusiasm about regenerative approaches to tourism have stimulated new projects and actions that ensure tourism is a force for good in destinations communities. That’s a good thing.
Zohreh Khosravi
Posted at 05:32h, 13 NovemberTourism in places of my country has had a good result, such as creating secondary income, and in other parts, it leads to the fear of losing the native identity of local communities.
For example, in the southeast of my country, where native communities have a closed structure and are less in contact with the people of other cities, there is a possibility that the unplanned arrival of tourists will destroy their native identity and local culture.
But by keeping in mind the criteria of sustainable tourism or regenerative tourism, it may be possible to achieve the prosperity of tourism in remote areas without destroying the local identity.
Professor, are there any guidelines and regulations like sustainable tourism for the regenerative tourism?
Thank you
Wisdom Ahadzi
Posted at 21:33h, 13 NovemberGood read and thanks, Jonathon.
Wisdom Ahadzi
Posted at 21:33h, 13 NovemberGood read and thanks, Jonathon.
Ingunn Sornes
Posted at 10:04h, 15 NovemberGreat perspective, because I have wondered. It is so many different perspectives embedded in sustainability, I have always interpreted flourishing and enriching qualities in it, others have not.