REGENERA-MED Project for the Development of Regenerative Tourism

As of April 1, 2025, the international Interreg Euro-MED project REGENERA-MED has launched, addressing the pressing challenges of mass tourism in the Mediterranean through the development of regenerative tourism models. These models aim not only to reduce negative impacts but also strive to make tourism a driver of environmental restoration and development, empowerment of local communities, and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources.

The project involves the development of concrete solutions and tools for measuring the impacts of tourism, while also supporting the transformation of development policies in six pilot areas across the Mediterranean. The ultimate goal is a systemic change in the tourism ecosystem, oriented toward values that prioritize community well-being, environmental responsibility, and long-term sustainability.

ZRC SAZU is participating in the project as a research partner. Under the leadership of Dr. Erik Logar from the Anton Melik Geographical Institute, ZRC SAZU will coordinate Work Package 1 (WP1): defining the concept of regenerative tourism, collecting and analyzing examples of best practices, and preparing key foundations for designing management approaches and stakeholder training. ZRC SAZU will also contribute to the development of the RISET self-assessment tool for evaluating the impacts of tourism areas, support capacity building at pilot destinations, and participate in the assessment of environmental effects, with a focus on tourism’s carbon footprint.

With its expertise and experience, ZRC SAZU will contribute to the long-term transferability and sustainability of the project’s impacts, ensuring alignment with European strategies in the fields of regenerative tourism and territorial development.