Sustainability and Regeneration in Tourism Planning

This chapter analyzes the conceptual and operational transition from sustainable tourism planning to regenerative tourism planning. In a context shaped by climate change, biodiversity loss, water stress, territorial inequalities, and growing social conflict in certain destinations, it argues that sustainability can no longer be confined to mitigating negative impacts. Instead, tourism planning must be directed toward restoring ecosystems, strengthening local communities, redistributing value, and enhancing territorial resilience. The chapter first reviews the main international frameworks that shape contemporary tourism action, including the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Glasgow Declaration, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Global Sustainable Tourism (GST) Criteria, and emerging systems for measuring tourism sustainability. It then examines the potential of tourism as an instrument of territorial regeneration and reviews tools related to tourism intelligence, sustainability measurement, climate management, and adaptive governance. Finally, the chapter argues that regenerative tourism is not merely a discursive label, but a demanding planning paradigm aimed at building destinations that are more liveable, equitable, resilient, and ecologically viable.