Regenerative tourism and regenerative travel: a guide
LUSHIA’s guide to regenerative tourism and regenerative travel: definition, how it differs from sustainable tourism, principles, examples and first steps for travellers, hotels and destinations.
Definition
Tourism that leaves destinations better than they were.
Regenerative tourism is tourism that leaves destinations — their nature, their communities and their culture — better than they were before visitors arrived. It is not content with reducing harm: it seeks a net positive impact that is measurable and lasting.
Where sustainable tourism asks “how do I do less harm?”, regenerative tourism asks “what does my activity leave in this place and in its people?”. That is why it puts the people who keep each destination alive at the centre: their training, their wellbeing and their share of the benefits.
Regenerative travel is the same idea seen from the traveller’s side: choosing, behaving and spending so that each trip helps regenerate the place it visits.
Differences
Sustainable tourism and regenerative tourism.
| Aspect | Sustainable tourism | Regenerative tourism |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Reduce negative impact | Create a net positive impact |
| Measure of success | Less waste, water and energy | Healthier ecosystems, communities and local culture |
| Local community | Taken into account | Takes part in decisions and benefits |
| People who work in it | Adequate conditions | Training, development and long-term opportunities |
| Role of the visitor | Consume responsibly | Actively contribute to the place they visit |
Principles
Five principles for regenerative tourism.
Cultural quality
Protect and pass on living heritage — crafts, art and traditions — as part of each community’s future.
Inclusion
Young people, senior professionals and local communities take an active part in tourism and its benefits.
Wellbeing
Care for those who live in the destination, those who work there and those who visit.
Longevity
Think long term: people, projects and destinations that grow stronger over time.
Regeneration
Aim for every destination to be better than it was, including its natural environment.
Regenerative luxury
What is regenerative luxury?
Regenerative luxury brings the principles of regenerative tourism to luxury and ultra-luxury boutique hospitality. In Regenera Luxury’s definition, it is “hospitality that leaves nature, culture and community measurably better than it found them”.
Its excellence is not measured by the room or the spa, but by impact: restoring nature, enriching communities and renewing the guest, with evidence that is measured, verified on the ground and independently audited.
Further reading
De Castro, H. (2026). Defining Regenerative Luxury: Principles, Operational Framework, KPI Architecture and Certification Model for the Transformation of the Luxury and Ultra-Luxury Boutique Hotel Segment. · DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15449.07529
Paper by Héctor de Castro, founder of LUSHIA and of Regenera Luxury.
Read the paper →For travellers
Regenerative travel: how to travel and leave places better.
- Choose local lodges and operators that reinvest in their community and environment.
- Stay longer and travel less often: slow, longer trips spread the benefits more widely.
- Hire local guides and buy from local artisans and producers.
- Respect living heritage: ask before photographing people, ceremonies or sacred places.
- If you volunteer, make it responsible and learning-based: never in orphanages or with children without professional supervision.
- Learn about the culture, language and challenges of the place before you go.
For hotels and destinations
How a hotel or destination can start.
- Train the team in regenerative tourism and local culture, and offer growth opportunities.
- Prioritize local hiring and suppliers, with fair conditions.
- Build partnerships with the community for education, health, culture or nature projects.
- Measure social, cultural and environmental impact and report it transparently.
- Host interns for genuine learning, with real mentoring.
Examples
Regenerative tourism in practice.
Enkopiro Camp · Kenya
A camp in the Maasai Mara that has driven a school and a hospital for the Maasai community.
Refugio Amazonas · Peru
By Rainforest Expeditions, recognized for its leadership in biodiversity and landscape regeneration in the Peruvian Amazon.
Asa Wright Nature Centre · Trinidad and Tobago
A non-profit land trust that has protected the forest of the Arima Valley since 1967.
FAQ
Regenerative tourism: frequently asked questions.
What is regenerative tourism?
Tourism that leaves destinations —their nature, communities and culture— better than they were, with a net positive impact that is measurable and lasting.
How is it different from sustainable tourism?
Sustainable tourism aims to reduce negative impact; regenerative tourism also aims to actively improve the place and the lives of the people who make it possible.
What is regenerative luxury?
Regenerative tourism applied to luxury and ultra-luxury boutique hospitality: hospitality that leaves nature, culture and community measurably better than it found them.
What is regenerative travel?
Travel planned to contribute to the place visited: local lodges and guides, longer stays, respect for living heritage and spending that stays in the community.
How can a hotel become regenerative?
By training its team, prioritizing local hiring and suppliers, building partnerships with the community and measuring and reporting its social, cultural and environmental impact.
Does LUSHIA certify hotels or destinations?
No. LUSHIA is a non-profit civil association focused on training and talent, and it does not issue certifications or labels.
With LUSHIA
Start today with LUSHIA.
At LUSHIA we promote regenerative tourism from the ground up: training, mentoring, accessible professional services and an international network of opportunities.
Collaborate
Let's join forces for training in destinations.
Universities
Recognized internships, faculty and co-created specialized content.
Hotels & companies
Internships, mentoring and opportunities for young and senior talent.
Foundations & destinations
Training programmes with measurable impact on the ground.
See our membership options for individuals and organizations →
Collaboration request
Tell us who you are and what you are interested in. We will reply from info@lushia.org.
Prefer email? Write to us at info@lushia.org · Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico