“In the face of a tourism model that depletes, disconnects, and displaces, we propose a path that restores relationships, territories, and meaning.”
Today, we face a profound dilemma: “When tourism thrives, destinations often suffer.” What begins as a promise of development and prosperity can eventually lead to overcrowding, social tension, and a loss of meaning. We’ve witnessed how rapid tourism growth brings short-term gains—but also how, slowly, it erodes the quality of life in local communities and fractures their connection with place.
When a destination starts neglecting itself to meet visitors’ expectations, it begins to lose its soul—its true value. Gentrification, overtourism, and the displacement of those who give life to the place become all too common. The result? Destinations stripped of authenticity, and communities that no longer recognize themselves in their surroundings.
Now more than ever, we must transform the way we travel. We’ve reached the limits of a model that depletes ecosystems, separates people, and turns what should be connection into meaningless consumption. And yet, this very moment offers us a doorway—a chance to create experiences that regenerate.
Experiences that awaken a sense of meaning. That build healthy relationships. That allow both travelers and places to flourish.
From a regenerative lens, tourism becomes a profound way to engage with the evolution of life. When we design with awareness, sensitivity, and respect for the identity of each territory, we create more than just a visit—we facilitate a transformational encounter. The place shapes the traveler, and the traveler, with conscious presence, contributes something back.
Designing regenerative experiences is, at its core, a practice of deep listening. It’s not about imposing ideas, but about revealing what’s alive in each place: its history, its rhythms, its unique character. Every community, every landscape, every season has something to teach—if we’re willing to truly observe. That’s why the first step is not action, but observation. With all our senses awake, we must ask: What is this place longing to express? What does it need in order to thrive? What can I offer from my role?
Our aim is to support places in becoming more fully themselves—unlocking their potential, honoring their essence, and accompanying their evolutionary journey. This requires developing new capacities and skills: the ability to perceive with depth, to read living patterns, to connect the visible with the invisible. Skills to design from what is alive, to facilitate collaborative processes, and to hold spaces where meaning, beauty, and purpose can emerge.
When this connection is achieved, a new kind of value is generated—one that goes beyond numbers. A systemic value that manifests in more authentic relationships, empowered communities, restored nature, and a more grounded and conscious economy. A value that enhances quality of life, cultivates belonging, and regenerates the web between people, culture, and nature. And yes—it also happens to be good business.
If any of this resonates with you, then this workshop might be the beginning of a new way of seeing. Because designing regeneratively is not just about creating experiences—it’s about breathing life into a different way of being in the world.
We’ll be hosting two Regenerative Tourism Design workshops in Mexico:
📍 Oaxaca – August 29, 30, and 31
🔗 Register here
📍 Tuxtla Gutiérrez – September 5, 6, and 7
🔗 Learn more and register
We encourage you to attend both and join us in strengthening regenerative tourism in Mexico and around the world.
Special Offer for ATMEX Community Select “Atmex” in the registration form to receive a 20% discount.
Martín Araneda M.
Consultant and facilitator in tourism and regenerative development
Co-founder of the Global Initiative for Regenerative Tourism & Camina Sostenible
