SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 10 Jan (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo, via Tenerife Tourism, has introduced the ‘REGENERATe’ initiative, aiming to enhance tourism awareness among visitors, the local populace, and the industry.
This initiative, which commenced in the last quarter of the previous year and will extend into 2025, has involved various volunteer activities, organised networking sessions, and the formation of a community of engaged stakeholders.
The vice president and tourism advisor of the Cabildo, Lope Afonso, emphasises in a statement that this project seeks the “complicity” of the tourism sector’s value chain and visitors through responsible actions and behaviours towards the natural environment, socio-economic contexts, and local culture, “to demonstrate the positive impacts that responsible tourism can have on the locality.”
According to the CEO of Tenerife Tourism, Dimple Melwani, “this initiative was established within the organisation to foster a culture of social responsibility among travellers, local communities, and the industry, enabling the regeneration of destinations and the empowerment of their populations, benefiting both current and forthcoming generations.”
She further indicates that by implementing sustainable practices and educating tourists and the community about social responsibility, it is possible to ensure that tourism becomes a formidable tool for long-term regeneration and prosperity.
“Every action is significant, and we all hold the potential to be catalysts for positive change to effectively manage the natural and cultural environment, thus contributing to the benefits of regenerative tourism,” Melwani concludes.
The significance of regenerative tourism is crucial for the preservation and enhancement of various ecosystems, which also aids in the maintenance of areas that are simultaneously highly valued tourist attractions.
Travellers are increasingly dedicated to environmental, as well as social and economic sustainability, prompting them to choose destinations and activities that also yield advantages for local communities, the Cabildo states.
In this context, Tenerife Tourism embraced the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism in 2024, where regeneration plays a vital role in sustaining ecosystems, biodiversity, and the local community.
CLOSING OF THE YEAR
‘REGENERATe’ concludes 2024 with a favourable outcome, establishing itself as a pivotal initiative for environmental regeneration, biodiversity conservation, and the empowerment of the local community in Tenerife.
During September, ‘REGENERATe Week’ executed numerous volunteer activities across various municipalities in the northern part of the island, with a focus on ecosystem restoration, coastal clean-ups, and the renaturalisation of trails and urban areas.
Thanks to the backing of local organisations, activities were conducted in the municipalities of Los Silos, San Juan de la Rambla, Icod de Los Vinos, Los Realejos, Villa de La Orotava, Santa Úrsula, Tacoronte, Tegueste, El Rosario, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The year 2024 also saw the establishment of ‘REDGENERATe’, a transformative community of companies, organisations, and tourism professionals dedicated to environmental regeneration.
This initiative aims to unify public and private efforts to promote tourism that leaves a constructive impact on both the environment and society.
As part of this collaborative effort, on 29 October, the first ‘REDGENERATe’ networking session occurred at the Doña Chana Cultural Park (La Orotava).
During this gathering, participants engaged in participatory activities and formulated strategies to bolster the island’s regenerative objectives.
In 2025, ‘REGENERATe’ will persist in its initiatives with new volunteer activities planned in southern Tenerife for spring and the solidification of ‘REDGENERATe’ as a benchmark in regenerative tourism.
This project, supported by the European Union through the Next Generation funds within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, integrates into the ‘Tenerife Reset’ initiative under the approved Tourism Sustainability Plans Programme by the Tourism Sector Commission, which includes other initiatives aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of tourism enterprises in Tenerife, focusing on new segments and the training of the sector.
