Possibilities for Regenerative Tourism
Increasing mass tourism is a growing challenge for the character and livability of a lot of cities. As pressure on neighborhoods and ecosystems increases, it’s time to move from harm reduction to regeneration. Regenerative tourism is a model of tourism that goes beyond the objective of sustainability and aims to re-design the industry in ways that solve instead of contributing to contemporary urban problems. By co-creating the tourism and leisure industry for and with local communities, this approach shifts the focus from minimising harm to creating a positive impact. Join us for an evening of dialogue and inspiration where we will discuss what regenerative tourism is, how Amsterdam is experimenting with regenerative strategies in A’dam Noord and in what ways the municipality of Amsterdam addresses this theme in its policies. Finally, how could these smaller scale strategies be applied across the tourism industry. We do this together with researchers, educators, students, practitioners and local innovators.
ConnACT is funded by EU CERV Networks of Towns.
In conversation with Roos Gerritsma Lab lead Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab & associate professor at InHolland University of Applied Sciences Laura Viaene Social Entrepreneur and Project Leader of Buurthotel Jimena Diamint Researcher in Urban Tourism at Inholland University of Applied Sciences Anouschka Trauschke Program Manager SPRONG ''Gastvrije Transities'' at InHolland University of Applied Sciences Thijs Koster Policy Advisor of Tourism, Hospitality & Visitor Economy at the Municipality of AmsterdamAbout the speakers
Roos Gerritsma is an urban sociologist who works as an Associate professor of New Urban Tourism at Inholland University of Applied Science. Since 2000 she has carried out (international) research on various topics, such as: residents and their attitude towards tourism, tourism policymaking, inclusive leisure design and co-designing (wellbeing) leisure and tourism concepts. She is the founder and lab lead of the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab in Amsterdam. Whithin this place-based lab setting, she and the lab team apply regenerative development and participative design methods and principles. The quest of how to co-design regenerative urban tourism in Amsterdam is part of her Professional Doctorate and runs from 2023-2028.
Anouschka Trauschke is a social entrepreneur who works as a transition manager Regenerative Tourism at Inholland University of Applied Sciences. With a background in development studies and tourism, she worked over a decade in the tourism industry of Amsterdam. In 2019 she co-founded Tours That Matter, a social tour company reshaping urban experiences to be centered around local communities. Anouschka’s work is rooted in a belief that stories can transform how we relate to each other and to the places we live in. Whether through guiding, pioneering projects, or cross-sector collaborations, she is committed to using tourism as a tool for positive change.
Thijs Koster is a policy advisor on visitors economy at the municipality of Amsterdam where complexity is at the heart of the work. Residents, visitors, businesses and the municipality are just the main pillars in this almost pinball-like game where every shot or move has a big impact on different stakeholders. As a co-founder of My Treats, Thijs and his team provide a platform for conscious consumers to find sustainable restaurants that cater to their personal dietary preferences and sustainability needs. Vice versa they give stage and spotlight to impact driven restaurants, regardless if they serve falafel or are awarded with a Michelin star. Within this work, they allow suppliers and producers to be known with industry partners and consumers.
Jimena Diamint is an urban tourism researcher at Inholland University of Applied Sciences, exploring how tourism can transform through systemic, post-growth and regenerative approaches. Her work also connects with the Inner Development Goals, focusing on how inner change can enable and sustain transformation in organizations and society. With a professional background in the aviation industry, she has researched aviation discourse about climate issues, uncovering the tensions between industry and personal narratives. This interest led her to co-initiate Call Aviation to Action , a movement of current and former aviation professionals calling for a climate-aligned transformation of the industry.
Laura Viaene is a social entrepreneur and project leader of Buurthotel, a platform that connects hotels with their neighbourhoods. She works to strengthen social cohesion and address urban challenges such as over-tourism and the loss of shared public space by helping hotels develop a meaningful, community-oriented role. Through Buurthotel, Laura promotes a regenerative approach to tourism in which hotels become open, inclusive spaces that create tangible benefits for local residents.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
