Have You Heard of Regenerative Tourism?
This concept is making its way to France, and it’s not just about minimizing harm—it aims to restore and revitalize our favorite destinations. Here’s how.
You’ve probably heard of ecotourism, sustainable tourism, or even slow tourism. But have you ever considered traveling as a way to heal the planet? That’s the goal of regenerative tourism, a new approach that is starting to take hold in France.
Traveling to Improve the Environment
The principle of regenerative tourism is simple: instead of merely reducing your impact, you leave your vacation spot in a better state than when you arrived. This goes far beyond sustainable tourism. It’s not just about offsetting carbon emissions or leaving a place as you found it—it’s about actively restoring ecosystems and supporting local communities.
Already embraced in New Zealand, Canada, and Finland, regenerative tourism involves concrete actions that move away from consumer-driven travel. As reported by Ouest-France in 2023, initiatives include tree planting, biodiversity conservation, and involving visitors in local life. Some hotels, such as Fogo Island Inn in Canada, even donate a significant portion of their revenue to local communities, according to Le Figaro.
France Is Slowly Adopting This Model
Until recently, regenerative tourism was underdeveloped in France, but that’s starting to change. Four pilot regions will be selected under the Destination Regen program, which has a €177,000 budget to help tourism professionals transition to this model. A call for applications was launched in late February 2025. The goal is to test economic models that truly benefit the environment and local communities, explains Tameteo.com.
In the Grand Est region, the Grand Reims tourism office is exploring ways to involve industry professionals in regenerative tourism. Questions arise: How can visitors be encouraged to take part in meaningful actions? Could a dedicated conservation tax be implemented, like in New Zealand, which recently tripled its tourism tax?
A More Ethical Tourism Model
This new approach is also attracting hoteliers. The Regenerative Travel platform already lists several committed establishments, and some French professionals are eager to follow suit. The idea is to create stays that are integrated with local ecosystems, working alongside farmers, artisans, and community organizations.
For example, French entrepreneur Thierry Teyssier co-founded the 700’000 Heures itinerant hospitality concept with Diane Binder, director of Regenopolis. This initiative is based on four key pillars: local economic development, women’s empowerment, cultural heritage preservation, and the restoration of fragile ecosystems. Their aim is to clarify the concept of regeneration through well-defined criteria, Le Figaro reports.
Can We Regenerate Everywhere?
While interest in regenerative tourism is still growing in France, traveler expectations are shifting. More tourists want to make a positive impact on their destinations—but there’s a risk of greenwashing.
Can regenerative tourism truly be applied everywhere? Circular economy expert Pauline Sheldon explains in Le Devoir that this approach requires “a fundamental shift in how we see the world” and represents “a commitment to using tourism as a tool to build thriving host communities while regenerating and healing damaged resources.” She adds that it involves a “philosophical change” prioritizing collaboration, local communities, and overall well-being.
Source: ouest-france
