Yglesias (EESC): “Regenerative tourism goes beyond sustainability; the EU should promote it”

Brussels – It is “the next step to sustainable tourism,” a whole new way of visiting other places that is “output-positive for the environment and communities” of the place. That’s regenerative tourism, as described by Isabel Yglesias, a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), who becomes a key player in this new frontier in her capacity as rapporteur of the opinion produced by the EU institution. “It is a trend that is emerging in some regions of the world, with some very positive experiences,” and, in Europe, we are not standing idly by, she explains in the interview granted to Eunews: “It is currently being studied in different regions, to see how tourism ecosystems can better adapt to new climatic and social needs.” 

Eunews: Wanting to define it, what is regenerative tourism? How does it differ from sustainable tourism?

Isabel Yglesias: “Wanting to give a definition, regenerative tourism goes beyond sustainability. While sustainable tourism focuses on reducing negative impacts, regenerative tourism actively restores and strengthens the natural, social, and economic capital of destinations. It follows a systemic vision and is closely linked to the circular economy, aiming to generate long-term positive value for ecosystems, communities, and local economies.”

Eunews: How can we achieve this regenerative tourism?

I.Y: “The goal is to enable communities to continue to benefit from the tourism experience while ensuring a better balance for all stakeholders. According to the EESC opinion, achieving it requires strategic planning, collaborative governance, targeted training, accessible models, incentive mechanisms, and deseasonalization strategies.”

Eunews: Is a single person’s personal behavior critical in this area? Do we need education rather than training and skills?

 I.Y: “Personal choices are, of course, decisive when it comes to tourism. This is why we need to ensure, as the Cese opinions point out, that no one is left behind in the process of moving toward sustainability in tourism, not only in terms of tourists but also in terms of the target communities. Awareness raising on all sides is essential. And training and upskilling of workers in relevant sectors will be essential to ensure that they adapt to digitization and the introduction of sustainability-related practices in their respective jobs. Involvement of tourists and consumers is critical to achieving a successful transition to regenerative tourism. The opinion emphasizes the importance of awareness campaigns and the role of consumers as agents of change, supported by accessible models and economic incentives. At the same time, training and upgrading workers’ skills in areas such as environmental sustainability, circular economy, eco-design, resource management, and new technologies are essential to support this transition.

Eunews: Are you confident that the recommendations of this opinion will be translated into practice?

 I.Y: “The opinion calls for specific guidelines, a strategy for sustainable tourism, and dedicated funding mechanisms, in line with the European Transition Pathway and the European Tourism Agenda 2030. The new European Commission is currently working on a strategy for sustainable tourism: our opinion offers elements for consideration, which I am sure will be taken into account as they are broad and reflect the sensitivities of different groups within European civil society, as represented in the EESC. Making them a reality will depend on political will at all levels involved: national, regional, local government, industry.”

Eunews: You ask for an accelerated transition to sustainable tourism. Are you concerned that the European Commission’s proposal to use EU funds, particularly cohesion funds, to finance the defense industry could be detrimental to this?

 I.Y: “Although not directly addressed, the opinion insists on the need for tourism-specific funding instruments, including pilot projects in regenerative tourism. Funding should support the sector’s efforts to achieve circular practices, integrate renewable energy, ensure ecosystem restoration, and introduce eco-design practices in the sector. A balanced debate on the use of the European budget will be needed, and this is already underway. We must not forget long-term needs, while of course we must ensure that urgent European needs are sufficiently funded. The one will feed into the other, although of course we must be prepared for changes in priorities and in the way public resources are spent in order to ensure their widespread effect throughout the European economy.”

Eunews: With the flexibility in fiscal rules already required for defense spending, are financial incentives also possible for tourism or, on the contrary, will they be more difficult to obtain?

I.Y: “As I said before, this balance will have to be ensured. It is essential that European funds are primarily directed to the private sector, making them directly accessible, rather than to the public sector, as has been the case so far, in order to achieve the multiplier effect that is critical to restoring competitiveness in the EU. Financial instruments should target digitization, circular transformation, and talent retention in the tourism sector.”

Eunews: You stressed that tourism should receive attention during this political cycle. Apparently there are other priorities. Do you think there is a lack of attention to this issue?

 I.Y: “Not at all. The European institutions are working on many fronts. The fact that we have a Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism is a very strong political signal that recognizes the importance of tourism to the European economy. I am sure that this legislature will give a big boost to EU policies in this field.The EESC welcomes the appointment of a Commissioner for Sustainable Transportation and Tourism (Apostolos Tzitzikostas, ed.) and goes further by calling for sufficient manpower within the European Commission to strengthen and coordinate EU tourism policies.”

Eunews: Is year-round tourism always possible?

 I.Y: Although not directly addressed, the opinion emphasizes the importance of deseasonalization strategies as key to making tourism more sustainable and inclusive.These include accessible models, diversification of experiences, and consumer engagement, which can facilitate year-round tourism in many regions. Excellent examples can be found throughout the EU, from experiences in the silver economy or cultural tourism, and it is necessary to learn from them when developing the strategy for sustainable tourism.”

Eunews: Regions and local authorities are already busy implementing National Recovery Plans (NRPs). Could there be a problem, in terms of capacity, when it comes to creating the network you refer to in the opinion to promote regenerative tourism? Because for some member states, administrative capacity is a long-standing issue that the European Commission has asked them to work on. Does this make it more complicated? I.Y: “The opinion recognizes the current challenges in terms of administrative capacity and proposes to strengthen governance structures through network-based collaboration involving local authorities, businesses, social partners, and civil society.It also stresses the importance of capacity building for both employer organizations, employee representatives, and public authorities to ensure the effective implementation of regenerative practices. An enhanced social dialogue is also crucial in this regard.”