So What is the Difference for the Tourism Industry?
From a tourism perspective, being a sustainable tourism operator means acting responsibly and having socially and environmentally responsible practices.
Sustainable Travel International states that ‘Sustainable tourism accounts for both the immediate impacts felt today as well as those longer-term impacts that will be experienced by future generations.’
Regenerative tourism, on the other hand, means businesses and destinations in the visitor economy ensure each activity implemented has a positive impact for the destination and it’s people.
What does it take to be a Regenerative tourism business?
Becoming a Regenerative business is a holistic approach, looking at consumer facing operations as well as business operations, giving back whilst also running a successful and profitable business, supporting your community whilst your community in turn supports you, offsetting emissions whilst also decarbonising.
Being a Regenerative tourism business means you are:
- Making ethical choices, where all choices either improve or do no harm to the community or environment
- Supporting the community you operate in
- Having a long-term positive impact on the environment
- Being economically beneficial to both your own business, and others in your community and beyond who have a shared ethos
The UN World Tourism Organization (WTO) defines sustainable/regenerative tourism 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”.
Through making conscious choices, a tourism businesses can help regenerate their community and environment through helping to tackle:
- Climate change
- Social injustices
- Threats to native wildlife
- Negative community sentiment
- Over-tourism
- Pollution & Waste
- First Nations rights
- Visitor behaviour
All whilst running a prosperous and healthy tourism business.
The Elephant in The Room
We know tourism is a significant contributor to global emissions, and at the same time the tourism sector is highly vulnerable to climate change, which is especially the case here in Australia.
As an industry we must connect the dots, so that when our tourism businesses are hit with cancellations, destruction and other devastating consequences due to bushfires, floods, and droughts, we are also part of an industry which is one of the root causes of climate change leading to these natural disasters.
There are huge steps that still needs to be taken by governments, airlines, transportation providers, accommodations, and other industry organisations and authorities to reduce the emissions and find solutions to more sustainable ways to travel. Progress seems frustratingly slow as we see the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) come and go each year.
So, should it be the problem of smaller tourism operators to take action?
The answer in short, is a resounding yes!
According to Tourism Research Australia, of the 334,532 tourism businesses in Australia, 78% have only 1-4 employees, and 95% have under 20 employees. Put simply, the backbone of the visitor economy in Australia is small businesses who collectively have the power and opportunity to make a huge difference.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” – Margaret Mead, American Cultural Anthropologist
The Future of Tourism
Tourism is vital to Australia and Australia is vital to tourism. The future of tourism is adopting a regenerative approach – tourism for good. Because travel is one of the most important life experiences one can have.
As Discover Hervey Bay puts it “Traveling is important in life because it will open you up to a new way of living and being. You will experience new connections with people and places and immerse in different cultures, which can help widen your perspective. So much learning and personal growth can come from traveling.”
Business for Good, is Good for Business
Becoming a purpose driven business is a highly rewarding process, and ironically if a business steers away from the traditional ‘growth at all costs’ business model to make ethical decisions that support people and planet before profit, it can attract more customers.
The Sustainable Travel Study By Expedia Group 2022 found that half of consumers would be willing to pay more for transportation, activities and lodging if the option was more sustainable.
Not only can being a regenerative tourism operator be good for business, but it can also lead to more positive reviews, more attention from media and tourism bodies, more advocates for your business, and a more supportive community.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan, Environmental Leader and First Person in History to Walk to both North and South Poles
Celebrate Progress not Perfection
Like all business development initiatives, becoming a Sustainable and Regenerative tourism business takes time. Time to consider your options, time to implement your new initiatives, and time to settle into a new rhythm.
It’s also a mindset; sitting in the mess about what your business values are, and how you live those values too. Having a deep and clear understanding of this helps you to identify what practices you will change to become sustainable, or regenerative, and to accurately articulate this to your guests.
Sometimes the biggest and most difficult step for a business to make on the path to becoming more Sustainable or Regenerative, is the first step.
Starting is the most important and significant milestone, from making small changes, to aiming for longer term goals.
So start slow, build, and celebrate your changes, and remember that regenerative tourism is a continuous, ever-evolving process and it’s all about progress not perfection along the way.
*Image Credit: https://www.spherasostenible.com/our-blog/regenerative-design
