When the COVID-19 pandemic brought life around the planet to a screeching halt last year, it triggered a period of introspection for many, including those within the travel industry.
One of the key ideas that has made its way into the spotlight is that of “regenerative tourism,” or the need for something even more intensive than sustainable tourism. Under the best of circumstances, this new chapter will involve having a positive impact on destinations and people, whether that means addressing poverty, protecting nature or engaging with and supporting local communities and cultural heritage.
But where do family travelers fit into this redefined model of tourism? And what will family tours and itineraries look like in this bold new world?
The answer is that family travelers have a critical role to play.
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“If anything, families will become the most important travelers in this regenerative model,” said Matt Berna, managing director for North America at Intrepid Travel.
“Because children nowadays are much more aware environmentally … [they] will want to see firsthand some of these areas around the world that are being impacted by climate change and other challenges.”
Still, not all tours are created equal when it comes to supporting the environmental, social or economic well-being of destinations, while also offering a fun family vacation. Here are some of the leaders in the field.
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid has used the past year to reimagine its product line. One of the company’s most recently added family-friendly and regenerative tours, Croatia: Sibenik & the Kornati Islands, was created specifically for the post-COVID-19 world.
The five-day trip takes participants beyond the well-known Croatia highlights and includes activities meant to support local businesses and communities. Guests enjoy adventures like snorkeling through an underwater wonderland of ancient artifacts hidden by rising sea levels. There are also activities organized in collaboration with Mediterranean Experience of Ecotourism (MEET), a network developed by the nonprofit organization International Union of Conservation of Nature that is designed to support eco-minded local tourism providers in national parks throughout the Mediterranean.
“A lot of us have been using this time to take a breath and reimagine and rebuild,” Berna said. “This has given us a chance to do something truly meaningful. We have had the time to really focus on these trips and redevelop them.”
Another notable Intrepid option is the soon-to-launch Iceland’s Golden Circle In Depth trip. In addition to visiting famed spots such as the Blue Lagoon, travelers will stay at a sustainable working farm in the Hvolsvollur Valley that doubles as a hotel.
“When we stay on the family farm, they take us out and educate the group about deforestation in Iceland,” Berna said. “And as part of the trip we plant a few trees, so it’s very hands on.”
Intrepid Travel offers families the chance to support local businesses and communities.
Credit: 2021 Intrepid TravelMt. Sobek
Massimo Prioreschi, president and CEO of Mt. Sobek, says his company has worked to seamlessly weave regenerative elements throughout itineraries, including those aimed at family travelers.
“Our trips, by their very nature, connect our guests to local communities, wildlife and nature,” he said. “We are partners with local operators to maintain a positive feedback loop of bringing guests and supporting communities.”
That includes creating cultural exchanges by connecting kids with local peers (such as setting up pick-up soccer games), and in some cases, visiting schools or engaging in bracelet making with local children and their parents.
Prioreschi points specifically to the company’s Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls & Hwange Multi-Adventure Safari, which includes working in a community garden, assisting with school construction, visiting a village school and participating in the classroom. Travelers also stay in a lodge built on community land, rather than a national park, which is a departure from normal practice.
Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad Expeditions has long prioritized inspiring people to explore and care about the planet.
“I think from Lindblad’s perspective, regenerative tourism is not a new term; it’s something we feel like we have been doing a long time,” said Amy Berquist, vice president of conservation, education and sustainability for Lindblad. “We always look at how we’re going to leave a place better, whether it’s the ocean or local communities.”
Lindblad’s journeys in the Galapagos and Alaska offer two of the most engaging family examples.
The company’s brand-new Wild Alaska: Juneau to Ketchikan itinerary allows travelers to explore the rarely visited town of Wrangell, where the indigenous Tlingit people have made their home for thousands of years. There are also numerous opportunities for young explorers to learn about and engage with nature in the destination, including collecting ice from glaciers and using it to create art.
In the Galapagos Islands, travelers can opt to spend time at a local school and have peer-to-peer cultural exchanges. There’s also a robust artisan program through which visitors of all ages connect with locals who are working to turn recycled glass into souvenirs at a facility established by Lindblad.
“Being sustainable and regenerative can be really fun for families,” Berquist said. “It doesn’t have to be a dry, boring topic.”
Being sustainable and regenerative can be really fun for families. It doesn’t have to be a dry, boring topic.
Global Family Travels
Rather than label Global Family Travels’ itineraries as regenerative, Jennifer Spatz, the company’s founder and CEO, prefers to refer to them as community tourism.
“Regenerative tourism actually involves looking at how tourism supports the whole community in all facets of the destination,” Spatz said. “It is looking at [local] challenges and how you can use tourism to ensure life is vital and healthy in that destination.”
Two of the family-friendly itineraries Global Family Travels offers include Bali: Learn, Serve and Immerse and Costa Rica: Learn, Serve and Immerse. The Bali journey has been designed to support the work of several nonprofits and communities, while also highlighting critical global issues aligned with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as access to quality education, clean water and gender equality.
“The youngest person in your family can make a difference,” Spatz said. “That’s where we want to start educating young global citizens — through authentic, meaningful travel experiences.”
The Details
Global Family Travels
Intrepid Travel
Lindblad Expeditions
Mt. Sobek
