Kevin Phun is founder of the Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore and is a practitioner in responsible tourism. An occasional writer, he is also involved in teaching and training.

Regenerative travel is about doing things in your travels that help to enable places to be even better than before you came. If it sounds like a new idea, it is because the travelling world has rarely looked at travelling in such an angle. If it sounds a little familiar, it is because such a form of travelling has similar principles to sustainable or responsible travel.

The traditional business model many travel agencies followed is probably outdated; there is now an increasing trend of travelling and doing meaningful things. Activities that are associated with immersing the travellers in the local cultures, activities that connect the travellers with the local destinations.

Travel agencies and tour operators are now looking at the changing mindsets of travellers and realising that many are searching for meaning in their travels. With a more educated group of travellers than before, the tourism industry must change and cater to a changing set of expectations from travellers.

The increased interest amongst many travellers in seeing how their travels can do something positive is a welcome trend where the power of travel can help contribute to solving local issues, from pollution to poverty to decline in natural resources for local communities.

Here are a few examples of how travel companies can engage in regenerative travel.

Identify specific local issues

Can your travel company support replanting of trees? Are you able to support replanting efforts, either through financial means or by working with stakeholders involved in the effort? Or better still, by having activities for the travellers where they can get involved themselves. If you are an ecotourism operator, this seems very workable.

Does your destination have any plans relating to regenerative tourism? For example, is the national or regional tourism master plan having any specific targets to get involved in regenerative travel? As a travel company, you might be able to find an opportunity to get involved. Local issues can also be poverty, poor levels of sanitation or even lack of livelihood opportunities.

Work with an NGO

Work with a non-governmental organisation (NGO); there are probably many around, and perhaps a few who can use the presence of tourism or tourists to help their work. Often, NGOS already are working in local areas with the communities and already have resources to work with. The presence of travel companies can help to speed up or scale up the work NGOs are doing.

Travel companies need to rethink their presence in the supply chain; travel agencies and tour operators can be an important part of the whole ecosystem that consists of non-tourism players. With this new perspective, travel companies will see more value and purpose in their business.

Travel operators an work with NGOs to help with local causes and add more value and purpose to the business. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/NewSaetiew

Cleaner air, river and flora and fauna

It is also about things like cleaner air, and healthier flora and fauna, and these things are all related to the itineraries of most tour companies. For the longest time, travel companies have rarely looked at how their itineraries are linked to the natural ecosystems of places they take travellers to. The largest segment of travellers these days also happens to be the population where education levels are much higher than their predecessors. This is also the group that combines travelling with learning.

Engaging the knowledge and skills of your travellers

Travel companies almost always talk about the interests, but almost never capitalised on the skills of the travellers. The skills of the travellers can be put into good use, and it is not just in volunteer trips. This perhaps forces travel companies to relook their product offerings, some could be out of date. New products that are about having people go to places and make a difference and there are always travellers who are keen to use their skills and knowledge to good use.

In conclusion, as travel companies seek to evolve, the product offerings will also change with the times. Regenerating places will become a better understood term and a bigger purpose in travel operations. The different ways regeneration can take place, and the diverse opportunities that come will gradually be identified and capitalized. Regenerate places by generating opportunities for travellers, and that will help you generate profits.