SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 3 APR. (Press Europa) –
Tenerife hosted the ‘I Congress Tourism 360: Towards a Regenerative Tourism’ in Santa Cruz on Thursday, featuring contributions from both national and international experts in the field. The aim of the event was to discuss the “keys” to fostering environmental and social regeneration within the sector.
Organised by the Cabildo de Tenerife through Tourism of Tenerife, and inaugurated by the Insular Corporation’s vice-president, Lope Afonso, the event welcomed notable figures such as Doug Lansky, an esteemed journalist, author, and speaker in the tourism domain, alongside Vicky Smith, the founder of the Earth Changers regenerative tourism platform, as per the Cabildo’s announcement.
Lope Afonso, the vice-president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, highlighted the island’s significance as a “successful tourist destination” characterised by substantial visitor numbers and promising economic returns. However, he acknowledged the inherent “tensions” stemming from the limited and delicate nature of some areas on the island. He expressed that tourism should aim to “balance interests and needs.”
Furthermore, the Minister of Tourism for Tenerife pointed out that it is crucial to not only discuss sustainability but also to evaluate the impacts of tourism activities, minimise the carbon footprint, and promote responsible behaviours.
“We must ensure that tourism yields positive results, contributing to the recovery of degraded areas and providing resources to disadvantaged local communities. Ultimately, we want to cultivate a circular and sustainable economy, ensuring that Tenerife is recognised as an environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically sustainable island,” he stated.
Dimple Melwani, the CEO of Tourism of Tenerife, took advantage of the Congress to emphasise the significance of “collaborative governance and a regenerative tourism approach” as “essential and priority” elements on the agenda of any organisation aspiring to make a “positive impact on society and the environment.”
About the Congress
The agenda was crafted to encourage reflection and knowledge exchange, aiming to “identify” the challenges faced by tourism in island territories and inspire actionable steps towards a regenerative future. The focus was on enhancing ecosystems and supporting local communities through responsible and mindful tourist activities, as highlighted by the council.
This initiative, financed by the European Union through its Next Generation funds within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, forms part of the Tenerife Reset project, incorporated into the approved tourism sustainability plans by the Sectorial Tourism Commission. This initiative is overseen by the Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Canary Islands Government and encompasses additional projects aimed at advancing the competitive development of Tenerife, focusing on new segments and training within the sector.
