Travel Guide: Regen­er­a­tive Travel

The tourism sector has grown steadily in recent years but has suffered severely due to the COVID-19 pandemic which broke out in spring 2020.

But the crisis may also be an opportunity. With the introduction and widespread implementation of effective vaccination, we may experience a return to travel that is even better than it was before spring 2020 – meaning greener, smarter and more sustainable.

Although the idea of sustainability has been playing an ever-growing role for a good decade now – thinking of terms such as Sustainable Travel – the concept of "Regenerative Travel" goes one step further. So what exactly is Regenerative Travel all about?

What is Regenerative Travel?

While Sustainable Travel is about reducing negative impacts or reaching net-neutral, Regenerative Travel aims at actually making it better.

Regeneration means building a collaborative relationship with nature and the environment. Those who travel regeneratively "not only" offset their CO2 emissions from their last flight on respective platforms, but also understand the impact their tourism dollar has on the chosen destination and that the way of travelling makes a difference. Awareness and willingness play a decisive role on the part of travellers.

Regenerative Travel companies are committed to protecting and preserving cultural and natural areas nearby, diverting funds to invest in local communities, combatting problems such as poaching and erosion, and growing their own food.

The implementation of measures that focus on the preservation of ecosystems, respect for nature and local communities and the promotion of inclusivity, diversity and social justice is essential.

Regenerative Travel thus pursues a holistic approach and aims to improve the conditions for future generations on an economic, socio-cultural and ecological level.

COVID-19 as an opportunity

The outbreak of the corona pandemic has hit the global travel industry hard. Tourism basically stopped and the world seems to be frozen up. This drastic standstill, however, offers the tourism sector the opportunity to rethink prevailing concepts, to reflect on weaknesses and to clarify how travel should look like in the future – a chance for a paradigm shift and the long-term implementation of the Regenerative Travel idea.

Furthermore, the pandemic itself is one of the main arguments for a regenerative way of travelling which – among other goals – aims at preserving biodiversity. The WWF explains: "If we invade or even destroy ecosystems, pathogens lose their host and look for a new one."

All in all it can be expected that travelling after corona will look different – more aware and more sustainable.

Regenerative Travel with Natucate

A fully "regenerative travel experience", meaning a completely renewable travel experience with added value, may remain some kind of illusion. But more and more providers are doing their best to come as close as possible to this ideal.

Natucate is one of these providers. Protecting nature and species, sparing and carefully using resources as well as supporting and involving local communities is what our trips focus on.

Moreover, we work together with conservation and environmental non-profits to help them implement meaningful conservation projects and ecotourism/regenerative structures through strategic planning, organizational assessment and mentoring.

Would you like to learn more about our trips and Regenerative Travel? Don’t hesitate to contact us! We are happy to provide you with detailed information and show you which travel options are available.

Sources

New York Times
New Scientist
WWF