Sustainable vs Regenerative Travel

Today we’re going to talk about two of the most popular traveling trends that everyone’s talking about,sustainability and regenerative travel. Are you familiar with these terms? If not, don’t you worry! We’ll talk you through and show you everything you need to know about these travel trends. But first let’s start with a bit of context.

As we all know tourism has been one of the most affected sectors during the pandemic. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council in 2020 62 million jobs were lost, leaving just 272 million employed across the sector globally, compared to 334 million in 2019. The threat of job losses persists as the pandemic continues without a full recovery of Travel & Tourism.

But let’s stay calm and don’t lose hope! Some in the tourism industry foresee a strong post-vaccine return to travel, better than it was before March 2020. The only positive thing that has resulted from the pandemic is that people are thinking “greener”, especially in the traveling aspect. Travelers look to travel green, smart and exclusive, this is why sustainable and regenerative travel have gained a lot of popularity during the past year. Sustainable tourism aims to minimise the negative impacts of the tourism industry and counterbalance its social and environmental impacts. On the other hand regenerative travel looks to repair the harm that has already been done by leaving the place you are visiting better than you found it.

Olas Tulum - Mexico

Sustainable Travel 

The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable travel as the “management of all resources in such a way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support systems.” This trend started to accelerate after the pandemic started, people are now valuing the environment and looking after earth’s natural resources while trying to mitigate the negative impacts of tourism. Travellers need to be aware of the pollution levels caused by travel and how it affects the environment, wildlife, local people and native cultures.

According to a recent study by travel company Virtuoso, four in five people (82%) said the pandemic has made them want to travel more responsibly in the future. Almost three-quarters (72%) said travel should support local communities and economies, preserve destinations’ cultural heritage and protect the planet.

Hermitage Bay - Antigua & Barbuda

Regenerative Travel 

Now let’s talk about regenerative travel! This concept refers to the act of leaving a place better than it was before you arrived. For a journey to be truly regenerative, it must contribute to the wellbeing of the land, animals and humans of that place. 

The regenerative travel experience isn’t just about lowering your carbon footprint or buying local, it is about actively improving the social or environmental conditions of the place you’re visiting. Regenerative travel looks for a real and measurable change, this approach can encompass concepts like being zero-waste, following natural design principles and prioritizing restoration. The main question we must ask ourselves is “how can travel be better and more meaningful while doing less harm?”.

Start small: you could volunteer for a beach cleanup, tree-planting projects or support indigenous owned and operated businesses. The key is in being a gracious guest while traveling. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to see a real change and there is no time to lose, it’s never too late to start!

Morgan’s Rock - Nicaragua

Eco Hotels & Resorts

If you are looking to change your way of traveling Eco Hotels & Resorts is the place for you. We believe in sustainable and regenerative travel, which is why we are mindful of having a positive impact on the environment and the communities who help us make your vacations memorable. 

In addition, all of our member hotels and resorts contribute to the betterment of the world by integrating sustainable practices into their core principles. In other words, your stay is upgraded by practices such as employing sustainable energy sources, growing-or-buying local ingredients, helping the surrounding communities grow and evolve, educating travelers, and more. We believe in making the world a better place, come and join our community!

Nayara Springs - Costa Rica

“First you give (aloha aku) to then receive (aloha mai)”