Regenerative tourism: transforming mindsets, systems and practices

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the mindset shift, systems change and boundary spanning practices needed transition a regenerative approach in tourism. seeks deliver concrete ways shift thinking paradigm. Design/methodology/approach This viewpoint defines tourism, explores its principles levers for driving transformational It outlines what conscious tourism entails working concludes by identifying five key areas reflection that seek challenge established practice. Findings reinvention requires work three areas: change, Three findings are summarised as: (1) Regenerative social-ecological consciousness depends on our capacity evolve from “me” “we” develop compassion, empathy collaborative action. (2) Scientific management inconsistent with regeneration. Tourism must be managed as complex adaptive system overcome challenges individualism, reductionism, separation marketisation associated scientific thinking. (3) deeply engaged bottom-up place-based, community-centred environment-focused. Originality/value shares reflections, recommendations CoLab based 30 years experience consultant, policy analyst, educator, researcher, professor now founder two social enterprises. With luxury distance higher education many do not have, author her shifting mindsets transformative change.