Travel as Reciprocal Gift: Understanding Regenerative Tourism

Tourism has long been a powerful driver of local economies, cultural exchange, and personal adventure. However, its potential to negatively impact the environment and local communities is becoming increasingly evident, and the tourism industry has often come under scrutiny for its role in accelerating ecological damage and tragic overconsumption of limited resources. Regenerative tourism, in contrast, offers a hopeful and refreshing alternative, in which the goal is not only to reduce the negative impacts of travel, but also to leave the travel destination better than you found it, by committing to (1) minimizing harm—reducing carbon footprints, conserving resources, and protecting local cultures, and (2) focusing on positive, restorative actions that actively improve both the environment and build positive relationships with the community in the travel destination.  

At Enlight Global, we keep regenerative tourism principles front and center, starting with where we choose to travel. For example, Sanguaré Nature Reserve, our main travel destination in Colombia, is a formerly-degraded 2,200-acre habitat area that is now vibrant with life, thanks to careful stewardship by local conservationists working tirelessly to protect and restore the biodiversity of the site. By staying laser-focused on sustainability, reduced consumption, and thoughtful management of water, food, and other resources, Sanguaré is pioneering an innovative regenerative tourism model in which a small eco-hotel funds their restoration efforts. In addition, an on-site native plant nursery provides travelers with the opportunity to contribute to reforestation efforts by planting native seeds and trees to further expand the wildlife habitat. By choosing to stay at Sanguaré, we have the opportunity to lessen our own travel footprint and contribute to meaningful habitat protection, while also learning directly from some of the most-practiced and innovative conservationists in the world. 

Similarly, when we visit Cartagena en route back to the US, rather than stay in a modern skyrise hotel or even a traditional historic hotel, we have chosen a hotel in La Boquilla, a small Afro-Carribean fishing village where community members are currently fighting to keep their land despite tremendous economic pressure from cruise-ship industry and hotel complexes that are encroaching on both sides. We arrived at this decision after spending the day with local tour guide Daniella who was born and raised in the village and explained to us the gravity of the situation that has motivated her and several family members to earn law degrees in order to protect La Boquilla. She also explained how staying in the village, dining there, and hiring local guides is one important way Enlight Global can help contribute critical financial resources to help fuel their efforts to preserve their cultural heritage. 

At its core, regenerative tourism promotes a holistic, integrated approach that encourages travelers to not only make responsible decisions but also contribute in meaningful ways to the regeneration of ecosystems, local cultures, and economies.