Regenera4MED

Towards a Mediterranean model of Regenerative Tourism as Climate Change adaptation and risk prevention

Regenera4MED, funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme, aims to reformulate tourism models in the Mediterranean to become an engine creating positive social and environmental value, thus contributing to climate change adaptation and risk prevention.

The tourism model in the Mediterranean: A need for a shift

The Mediterranean region is particularly vulnerable to climate change. There is a need to adapt to it, build resilience and strengthen risk prevention mechanisms. Nevertheless, this vulnerability is enhanced by the tourism model that is currently employed, based on mass-consumerism and unsustainable practices. Considering the relevance the tourism sector has on the region’s economy (the Mediterranean hosts 35% of all international tourists’ arrivals), a comprehensive solution to this challenge must necessarily create a shift in the tourism field without diminishing the activity of the sector as to protect and strengthen the regional economy. This is possible: over 70% of European citizens affirm to be willing to change their travelling habits, in order to shift towards a more sustainable model.

A regenerative tourism model to help tackle climate change

Regenera4MED will pioneer a new regenerative tourism model that aims to go beyond sustainability, actively restoring and enhancing environmental, cultural, and community values. The project will involve multiple stakeholders, including local communities, public authorities, SMEs, academia, and environmental organizations, working together through a 5-Helix governance model.

The project will focus on three main elements:

Regenerative Tourism Model – Testing and operationalizing a new regenerative tourism model in six pilot regions to promote climate change adaptation, resilience, and positive environmental impact.

Regenerative Experiences – Developing and testing regenerative tourism experiences to create sustainable travel options that strengthen local economies and preserve local heritage and culture.

Knowledge and Tools – Creating tools for self-evaluation, including the RISET digital tool, and producing the Regenera4MED Blueprint to ensure the scalability of the project’s outcomes.

Ten partners from six countries

Regenera4MED is brought forward by a consortium of 10 partners from 6 countries: the Catalan Tourism Board (Spain), B.Link Barcelona Strategic Projects (Spain), the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (France), the Region of Liguria (Italy), the Region of Abruzzo (Italy), the Region of Crete (Greece), the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (Slovenia), the Corsica Tourism Agency (France), the Public Institution RERA S.D for Coordination & Development of Split Dalmatia County (Croatia), and the University of Peloponese (Greece).

B.Link contributes to the elaboration and implementation of the Regenera4MED Elicitation Programme, coordinating the creation of new regenerative tourism experiences in 6 pilot destinations in 5 Mediterranean countries. It will also co-lead the activities on long-term sustainability and amplification, particularly ensuring the cross fertilization between the results of the project and the experience and knowledge of other relevant stakeholders in the tourism sector, ensuring peer learning and transferability of the results to the targets of the project.