Regenerative tourism
an analysis of the performance of Biofábrica de Corais in Porto de Galinhas – PE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18472/cvt.25n2.2025.2233Keywords:
Regenerative Tourism, Sustainable Tourism, Porto de Galinhas/PEAbstract
Given the contemporary socio-environmental challenges, regenerative tourism emerges as an alternative to the sustainable model by proposing not only the mitigation of impacts but also the regeneration of ecosystems, local economies, and cultures. This study analyzed the work of the Coral Biofactory, located in Porto de Galinhas, Pernambuco, from the perspective of regenerative tourism. The research adopted a qualitative approach, with a descriptive design and case study methodology, supported by a literature review from the Web of Science (2007–2024), document analysis, an interview with the founder, and on-site observation. The results highlighted the strategic role of the startup in operationalizing regenerative tourism through coral restoration, environmental education, and community engagement. The initiatives observed reflect key principles such as an ecosystemic vision, transformational approach, continuous positive impacts, overcoming reductionist logic, collective well-being, and climate change mitigation. It is recommended to expand community inclusion in strategic decision-making, strengthen collaborative governance, and disseminate the approach in similar destinations.
References
Agência Brasileira de Promoção Internacional do Turismo. (2024, março 5). ITB: Ação de sustentabilidade da Embratur na Alemanha ganha elogio de operadores: "Caminho correto". https://embratur.com.br/2024/03/05/itb-acao-de-sustentabilidade-da-embratur-na-alemanha-ganha-elogio-de-operadores-caminho-correto/
Bardin, B. (2016). Análise de conteúdo (1st ed.). Edições 70.
Becken, S., & Kaur, J. (2022). Anchoring "tourism value" within a regenerative tourism paradigm - a government perspective. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 30(1), 52-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1990305
Bellato, L., & Cheer, J. M. (2021). Inclusive and regenerative urban tourism: Capacity development perspectives. International Journal of Tourism Cities, 7(4), 943-960. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-04-2021-0074
Bellato, L., & Pollock, A. (2023). Regenerative tourism: A state-of-the-art review. Tourism Geographies, 25(4), 1026-1046. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2022.2133066
Bellato, L., Frantzeskaki, N., & Nygaard, C. A. (2023a). Regenerative tourism: A conceptual framework leveraging theory and practice. Tourism Geographies, 25(4), 1026-1046. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2022.2133066
Bellato, L., Frantzeskaki, N., Lee, E., Cheer, J. M., & Peters, A. (2023b). Transformative epistemologies for regenerative tourism: Towards a decolonial paradigm in science and practice? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(6), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2022.2153803
Bellato, L., Frantzeskaki, N., Briceño Fiebig, C., Pollock, A., Dens, E., & Reed, B. (2022). Transformative roles in tourism: Adopting living systems' thinking for regenerative futures. Journal of Tourism Futures, 8(3), 312-329. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-01-2022-0018
Biofábrica de Corais. (2024, abril 14). Experiências para você atuar diretamente na recuperação do ambiente natural local. https://biofabricadecorais.com/turismoregenerativo/
Bramwell, B., Higham, J., Lane, B., & Miller, G. (2017). Twenty-five years of sustainable tourism and the Journal of Sustainable Tourism: Looking back and moving forward. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2017.1251689
Brouder, P. (2020). Reset redux: Possible evolutionary pathways towards the transformation of tourism in a COVID-19 world. Tourism Geographies, 22(3), 484-490. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2020.1760928
Brundtland, G. H. (1987). Our common future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Oxford University Press.
Cave, J., & Dredge, D. (2020). Regenerative tourism needs diverse economic practices. Tourism Geographies, 22(3), 503-513. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2020.1768434
Chakraborty, A. (2021). Can tourism contribute to environmentally sustainable development? Arguments from an ecological limits perspective. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(6), 8130-8146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00964-1
Coll-Barneto, I., & Fusté-Forné, F. (2023). Understanding environmental actions in tourism systems: Ecological accommodations for a regenerative tourism development. Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-Being, 11(4), 239-253.
Dredge, D. (2022). Regenerative tourism: Transforming mindsets, systems and practices. Journal of Tourism Futures, 8(3), 269-281. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-01-2022-0020
Empresa de Turismo de Pernambuco. (2022). 3° Prêmio Pernambuco de Turismo consagrou vencedores no Cais do Sertão. https://www.empetur.pe.gov.br/sala-de-imprensa/blog/1367-3-premio-pernambuco-de-turismo-consagrou-vencedores-no-cais-do-sertao
Fusté-Forné, F., & Hussain, A. (2022). Regenerative tourism futures: A case study of Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Tourism Futures, 8(3), 346-351. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-01-2022-0024
Gibson, C. (2021). Critical tourism studies: New directions for volatile times. In Recentering tourism geographies in the 'Asian century' (pp. 11-29). Routledge.
Hall, C. M. (2008). Tourism planning: Policies, processes and relationships (2nd ed.). Pearson Education.
Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2018). Sustainable tourism: Sustaining tourism or something more? Tourism Management Perspectives, 25, 157-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2017.11.017
Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2024). The end of tourism? Contemplations of collapse. Journal of Tourism Futures, 10(3), 476-485. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-11-2023-0259
Hui, X., Raza, S. H., Khan, S. W., Zaman, U., & Ogadimma, E. C. (2023). Exploring regenerative tourism using media richness theory: Emerging role of immersive journalism, metaverse-based promotion, eco-literacy, and pro-environmental behavior. Sustainability, 15(6), 5046. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065046
Kripka, R. M. L., Scheller, M., & Bonotto, D. D. L. (2015). Pesquisa documental na pesquisa qualitativa: conceitos e caracterização. Revista de Investigaciones UNAD, 14(2), 55-73.
Major, J., & Clarke, D. (2022). Regenerative tourism in Aotearoa New Zealand - A new paradigm for the VUCA world. Journal of Tourism Futures, 8(2), 194-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-09-2021-0233
Mathisen, L., Søreng, S. U., & Lyrek, T. (2022). The reciprocity of soil, soul and society: The heart of developing regenerative tourism activities. Journal of Tourism Futures, 8(3), 330-341. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-01-2022-0019
Matunga, H., Matunga, H., & Urlich, S. (2020). From exploitative to regenerative tourism. MAI Journal: A New Zealand Journal of Indigenous Scholarship, 9(3), 295-308.
McCool, S. F. (2016). The changing meanings of sustainable tourism. In S. F. McCool & K. Bosak (Eds.), Reframing sustainable tourism (pp. 13-32). Springer.
Mercado e Eventos. (2022, dezembro 4). Prêmio Braztoa de Sustentabilidade 2022/2023 premia as 10 melhores iniciativas. https://www.mercadoeeventos.com.br/noticias/agencias-e-operadoras/premio-braztoa-de-sustentabilidade-20222023-premia-as-10-melhores-iniciativas-fotos/
Mika, J. P., & Scheyvens, R. A. (2022). Te Awa Tupua: Peace, justice and sustainability through Indigenous tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 30(2-3), 637-657. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1990305
Miroglio-Gouin, M., Piñar-Alvarez, M. A., Saucedo, B. M., & García-Contreras, R. (2024). Evaluación del turismo regenerativo en México: El Flow Map como herramienta metodológica. El Periplo Sustentable, 46, 329-353.
Ministério do Turismo. (2024a, março 13). Nordeste e Sul lideram alta de viagens domésticas no primeiro trimestre. https://www.gov.br/turismo/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/nordeste-e-sul-lideram-alta-de-viagens-domesticas-no-primeiro-trimestre
Ministério do Turismo. (2024b, maio 10). Prêmio Nacional do Turismo. https://www.gov.br/turismo/pt-br/acesso-a-informacao/acoes-e-programas/programas-projetos-acoes-obras-e-atividades/premio-nacional-do-turismo/PrmioNacionaldoTurismo2023.pdf
Moyle, B., Moyle, C. L., Ruhanen, L., Weaver, D., & Hadinejad, A. (2020). Are we really progressing sustainable tourism research? A bibliometric analysis. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(1), 106-122. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1817048
Naess, A. (1973). The shallow and the deep, long-range ecology movement: A summary. Inquiry, 16(1-4), 95-100. https://doi.org/10.1080/00201747308601682
Owen, C. (2007). Regenerative tourism: A case study of the resort town Yulara. Open House International, 32(4), 42-53.
Paradies, Y. (2020). Unsettling truths: Modernity, (de-)coloniality and Indigenous futures. Postcolonial Studies, 23(4), 438-456. https://doi.org/10.1080/13688790.2020.1809063
Pearson, R. E., Bardsley, D. K., & Pütz, M. (2024). Regenerative tourism in Australian wine regions. Tourism Geographies, 26(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2023.2295432
Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the twenty-first century (A. Goldhammer, Trans.). Harvard University Press. (Original work published 2013)
Qi, F., Pforr, C., & Justin Dit, T. (2024). Exploring the regenerative potential for community-based ecotourism in the Niah National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia. Journal of Ecotourism, 23(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2024.2311819
Raupp, F. M., & Beuren, I. M. (2006). Metodologia da pesquisa aplicável às ciências sociais. Atlas.
Rehman, A. U., Abbas, M., Abbasi, F. A., & Khan, S. (2023). How tourist experience quality, perceived price reasonableness and regenerative tourism involvement influence tourist satisfaction: A study of Ha'il Region, Saudi Arabia. Sustainability, 15(2), 1340. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021340
Ruhanen, L., Moyle, C. L., & Moyle, B. (2019). New directions in sustainable tourism research. Tourism Review, 74(2), 138-149. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-12-2017-0196
Ruhanen, L., Weiler, B., Moyle, B. D., & McLennan, C. J. (2015). Trends and patterns in sustainable tourism research: A 25-year bibliometric analysis. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(4), 517-535. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.978790
Saarinen, J. (2006). Traditions of sustainability in tourism studies. Annals of Tourism Research, 33(4), 1121-1140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2006.06.007
Sachs, I. (2009). Caminhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável. Garamond.
Sheller, M. (2021). Reconstructing tourism in the Caribbean: Connecting pandemic recovery, climate resilience and sustainable tourism through mobility justice. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(9), 1436-1449. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1942454
Sharpley, R. (2000). Tourism and sustainable development: Exploring the theoretical divide. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 8(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580008667346
Stiglitz, J. E. (2012). The price of inequality: How today's divided society endangers our future. W.W. Norton & Company.
Tasso, J. P. F., & Nascimento, E. P. (2022). Mandala da sustentabilidade no turismo: um instrumento crítico e propositivo. In Turismo, sustentabilidade e COVID-19: entre incertezas e esperanças (pp. 309-335). Editora UFPB.
Yin, R. K. (2016). Pesquisa qualitativa do início ao fim (D. Bueno, Trans.; D. da Silva, Tech. Rev.). Penso.
Zaman, U. (2023). Seizing momentum on climate action: Nexus between net-zero commitment concern, destination competitiveness, influencer marketing, and regenerative tourism intention. Sustainability, 15(6), 5213. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065213
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 CC Attribution 4.0

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.