What is Regenerative Tourism?
Volunteering with Parks Canada in the Waterton Biosphere Region
The tourism industry often gets a bad reputation for damaging ecosystems, displacing local communities, and prioritizing profit over sustainability. But what if travel could do the opposite?
What if explorers left a place better than they found it?
That’s the core idea behind regenerative tourism—a movement transforming the way we travel.
What is Regenerative Tourism?
Regenerative tourism goes beyond sustainability. Instead of just minimizing harm, it actively improves the environment and communities that travelers visit.
It’s about giving back—participating in conservation projects, restoring natural ecosystems, and supporting local economies in a meaningful way.
“Regenerative tourism restores land and communities to their natural state for the enjoyment and appreciation of future generations”
📖 Want to explore more about sustainable travel? Read our guide: ‘What is a UNESCO Biosphere Region?’
Regenerative Tourism in Biosphere Regions
At Biosphere Bathing, we connect travelers with hands-on opportunities to contribute to conservation. Our focus? UNESCO Biosphere Regions—designated areas that lead the way in sustainability and biodiversity protection.
These regions have already undergone significant regeneration themselves, making them the perfect destinations for travelers who want to make a difference.
Take the Howe Sound Biosphere Region (HSBR), for example. After years of industrial pollution, the local community rallied to restore the marine ecosystem, resulting in an incredible comeback of marine life. Today, visitors can contribute to its ongoing conservation.
How You Can Get Involved
Explore nature & contribute to global research with the iNaturalist app, you can record and share observations of plants, animals, and fungi, contributing to vital biodiversity research. Every photo you upload helps scientists track species and monitor ecosystems, making your nature explorations meaningful and impactful.
🔍 Follow Biosphere Bathing on iNaturalist to get live updates on species we see in Biosphere Regions around the world!
“Done right, tourism can…help rebalance ecosystems and biodiversity damaged by more extractive industries”
How can the tourism industry contribute?
The term “eco-tourism” is everywhere, but how do you know if a business is truly committed to sustainability—or just using buzzwords to attract travelers?
Here’s what to look for:
Real Action: Are they actively involved in conservation projects? Do they restore the environment, not just sustain it?
Transparency: Do they provide clear, measurable evidence of their impact?
Community Involvement: Do they support local communities, culture, and biodiversity?
A Real-World Example
Watch how Hello Nature Adventure Tours helps remove marine debris in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation. Instead of just claiming to protect the oceans, they actively organize beach clean-ups and promote sustainable paddling adventures.
🔍 Follow us on Instagram (@biospherebathing) for more inspiring regenerative tourism stories!
The Future of Travel is Regenerative
Tourism doesn’t have to be extractive. It can be a force for good—a way to restore, rejuvenate, and reconnect with nature.
Would you travel this way?
Let us know in the comments – we’d love to hear from you!
📖 Want to be the first to hear about new travel guides & volunteer opportunities? Sign up for our newsletter!
Photo by Amber Turnau of Substrate Studios
Or follow us on social media at the below links:
-
A regenerative approach to tourism in Canada - Destination Canada.
Q&A: Destination Canada’s Gracen Chungath on the future of regenerative tourism in Canada - Canadian Geographic.
Is Canada on the cusp of a tourism enlightenment? - Canadian Geographic.