Regenerative tourism helps “heal” the tourism environment

Sustainable tourism has been the development orientation of the world tourism industry for many years. However, that is not enough. In recent years, tourism has begun to move towards a more progressive and scientific form, "the sustainable tourism development strategy that is receiving more attention globally today is regenerative tourism".

Regenerative tourism - "healing" tourism

Rows of green trees newly planted by tourists in tourist areas, canals that are not polluted by garbage, beaches with only golden sand and blue sea... these are the images at the most environmentally friendly tourist destination in Thailand today, Koh Tachai Island.

However, most visitors to Koh Tachai today do not know that Koh Tachai Island was once a famous tourist destination, once known as the "gem" in the Similan Islands National Park, Phang Nga Province, Thailand. However, tourism overload, lack of control, and lack of awareness of tourists and locals during a long period of tourism exploitation caused Koh Tachai Island to be completely closed to overcome environmental consequences in May 2016. And it was not until 9 years later, in April 2025, that Koh Tachai Island could reopen to tourists.

Koh Tachai Island was once completely closed for 9 years to deal with environmental consequences. (Photo: Similan_KohTachai)

After years of ecological restoration, the Koh Tachai government is now focusing on ensuring sustainable tourism activities and preserving the island’s natural beauty. Koh Tachai is now famous for a new type of tourism, Regenerative Tourism.

Similar to Koh Tachai, the tourist paradise of Boracay Island, Philippines, was also closed for environmental rehabilitation in April 2018. The decision to close Boracay Island received mixed reactions from the public, tourism businesses and tourists. However, Boracay authorities said that closing tourism to rehabilitate and restore the natural environment was necessary.

After reopening tourism activities, the Boracay government has created opportunities for tourists to join hands in preserving and developing for a better Boracay with the commitment: “Let’s make sure that when we travel, we are traveling in a way that makes destinations more regenerative and developed in the future.”

The island tourist paradise of Boracay was also forced to close for environmental rehabilitation. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Talking about the development orientation of regenerative tourism, Ms. Anna Pollock, a strategic research expert for global tourism organizations, said: The sustainable tourism development strategy that is receiving more attention globally today is regenerative tourism, which not only aims to minimize negative impacts on the environment and community but also aims to use tourism to restore and regenerate, creating positive results for nature, community and tourists themselves.

According to experts, regenerative tourism is not a tourism product but a social and environmental movement. The movement calls on hotels, travel companies, tourists and people to share the goal of developing sustainable tourism, not stopping at minimizing or not affecting the environment, but rather having positive impacts, “healing” the tourism environment.

Koh Tachai is now famous for a new type of tourism, renewable tourism. (Photo: Similan_KohTachai)

“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” is a popular message in recent years at many destinations in Vietnam and around the world, aiming to protect the natural environment. “However, the tourism idea that is gaining more attention today is that “when tourists leave, they will leave a better tourist destination for the future” is becoming a new standard for tourism, for sustainable development based on the fact that all participants experience the restoration and healing of nature, culture and people”, shared Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Tourism Economics .

Regenerative tourism promotes sustainable development

Globally, the travel industry is driving a strong growth in sustainable, green tourism. Research from Booking.com shows that 76% of travelers want to travel more sustainably, and more than 70% are willing to take part in activities that help protect and restore the places they visit. These travelers are looking for deep, meaningful experiences that go beyond pleasure and convenience, not just for themselves but for the environment and their communities. They want to know how their money is making an impact on the world around them.

The campaign “Clean Up Son Tra – Diving to clean up trash, rescue corals” has received support and participation from many locals and tourists. (Photo: Clean Up Son Tra campaign)

In Vietnam, tour products associated with the orientation of renewable tourism have appeared for several years and received positive responses from travel agencies, local people and tourists. Especially recently, many campaigns for sustainable tourism environment have been organized by travel companies and authorities at destinations across provinces and cities. A typical example is the success of the tour "One tree for Da Lat for each tourist" which attracted many tourists to participate, especially young tourists. The model "Clean and green Phu Quoc group" called on tourists to become volunteers to protect the tourism environment, the model "Clean Up Son Tra - Diving to clean up trash, rescue coral" or the campaign "Let's clean the sea" in Quang Ninh ... are all very supported and welcomed by tourists, businesses and people.

“Regenerative tourism is not a single tourism product or activity, but a common strategy, in which travel businesses act as guides and companions to tourists. The most important thing is to let tourists take responsible actions themselves,” said Nguyen Ngoc Toan, founder of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WAFORT).

We should proactively make a positive impact on the tourism environment, to promote better and better tourism development. (Photo: Clean Up Son Tra campaign)

Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Tourism Economics, said that “regenerative tourism” is not only related to the natural environment, but more deeply, the cultural environment, where cultural heritages are not only preserved, but also restored and the heritage is reintegrated into community life. That is, instead of continuing to exploit famous destinations in the usual way as before, businesses focus on designing in-depth experiences in community cultural spaces, traditional craft villages, and “living heritages”. Tourists are not just people who “pass through” the experience, but become “participants” and contribute to “regenerating”, enriching cultural products as well as the natural environment where tourists pass through.

Green tourism and sustainable tourism should not stop at minimizing or not having an impact on the environment, both natural and cultural. Moreover, we should proactively have a positive impact on the tourism environment, to promote the development of tourism to be better and more sustainable in the future, which is regenerative tourism, a new standard for tourism.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/du-lich-tai-tao-giup-chua-lanh-moi-truong-du-lich-20250806094627568.htm