Regenerative tourism: a conceptual framework leveraging theory and practice

Abstract

The sustainable tourism development agenda is widely criticised for being co-opted to serve continual economic growth, driving environmental devastation and social inequalities. In response, calls for a fundamental paradigm shift have become louder. Subsequently, a novel approach has emerged, regenerative tourism, which belongs to a long lineage of regenerative development approaches drawing from Western science and Indigenous perspectives, knowledge systems and practices. The paper develops a conceptual framework consisting of five design dimensions and seven practice principles based on practitioner consultations and an appraisal of the theoretical and practical dimensions of regenerative tourism. Consequently, the conceptual framework offers practical guidance for tourism stakeholders working towards regenerative futures. Arguably, this is the most comprehensive review of regenerative tourism to date and contributes to scholarship through its examination of the transformational potential of the regenerative tourism paradigm and related approaches.

Supplemental data for this article is available online at at http://doi:10.1080/14616688.2022.2044376.

Keywords:

• regenerative tourism
• transforming tourism
• paradigm transformations
• regenerative development

Acknowledgments

Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, supported this paper through the Swinburne University Postgraduate Research Award (SUPRA). Ethics approval by Swinburne University was obtained to undertake the research (Ref: 20204108-5148). We acknowledge the contribution of Dr Andrew Peters, an Indigenous academic from Victoria, Australia, who teaches in all areas of Indigenous Studies at Swinburne University of Technology and has conducted research in a range of areas, including Indigenous tourism. Dr Peters contributed to the editing of this paper and was an associate investigator in this study. In addition, we wish to recognise the insightful contributions of our anonymous peer reviewers and thorough review by Professor Joseph Cheer (Co-Editor-in-Chief). Finally, we would like to thank the scoping review consultation participants who shared their wisdom and insights. They are: Anna Pollock – Founder, Conscious Travel; Matt Sykes – Founder, Regeneration Projects; Sonia Teruel - Co-founder of The RegenLab for Travel; Portia Hart – Co-Founder, Blue Apple Beach House, Townhouse & Green Apple Foundation; Elke Dens – Marketing Director, Visit Flanders; Jeremy Smith - Co-founder, Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency; Author, Transforming Travel; Carlos Briceño Fiebig – Co-founder/Creative Director, Global Initiative for Regenerative Tourism & Camina Sostenible; Martín Araneda – Co-founder / Director of Development, Global Initiative for Regenerative Tourism & Camina Sostenible; Bill Reed – Principal, Regenesis Group; Ashleigh Bartley, Bwgcolman Ewamian, Specialist in Aboriginal Tourism for Visit Victoria, Australia; Dean Stewart, Victorian Wemba Wemba Wergaia man, Director of ‘Aboriginal Tours and Education Melbourne’ A-TAEM, Australia; Alana Marsh, Meriam woman, regenerative system resetter and Wayapa Wuurrk practitioner, Australia; Laurissa Cooney, Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi iwi descent, Professional Director and Fellow Chartered Accountant, Aotearoa New Zealand; one anonymous Indigenous practitioner.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Loretta Bellato

Loretta Bellato is a settler woman from Melbourne, Australia, currently undertaking PhD studies at Swinburne University of Technology examining regenerative tourism approaches to urban development. Loretta is a graduate of the Regenesis Regenerative Practitioner Series, Master of International Development, RMIT and Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management, Monash University, and has extensive practitioner experience in community health and tourism sectors. This research was undertaken as part of Loretta’s PhD studies.

Niki Frantzeskaki

Niki Frantzeskaki is a Chair Professor in Regional and Metropolitan Governance and Planning at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. She was previously a professor of urban sustainability transitions and the director at the Centre for Urban Transitions at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. She holds a PhD on ‘Dynamics of Sustainability transitions’ from Delft University of Technology. She researches contemporary sustainability transitions and their governance across Europe, the USA, Brazil, and developing countries like Vanuatu and Ghana. Niki’s interests range from environmental governance, urban sustainability transition, sustainable waste management, and innovating cities with nature-based solutions.

Christian A. Nygaard

Christian A. Nygaard is an Associate Professor in social economics at the Centre for Urban Transition’s at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. He is also the Research Theme Leader for New Ways of Urban Living and AHURI Research Director. His primary research interests are in the processes of urban change with a focus on long-term neighbourhood dynamics; housing market efficiency and affordability; international migrants in housing, neighbourhoods and labour markets; political-economy and institutional drivers of governance adaptations in the provision of social housing, transition dynamics and industrial policymaking in resource-rich countries.