Tourism is traditionally evaluated by the number of visitors and the revenue they generate. However, there is an alternative approach that views tourism's success through the lens of forest protection, preservation of traditions, and creation of opportunities for local communities. This approach is called regenerative tourism, and it aims to go beyond simply reducing the negative impact of tourism, focusing instead on restoring and strengthening visited places.
In Iran, this idea is reflected in rural areas where nature, cultural heritage, and the livelihoods of the local population are closely intertwined. An example of such development is the village of Soheyli on Kish Island, where wetland conservation, community-based tourism, and local entrepreneurship develop in parallel.
To delve deeper into the meaning and potential of regenerative tourism, a conversation was held with Dr. Azade Abandinzadeh, a tourism expert who has worked with rural communities in Iran and participated in preparing Soheyli's application for the UN initiative 'Best Tourist Villages.'
Dr. Abandinzadeh noted that the village of Soheyli, along with other settlements in Iran, was recently recognized as one of the best tourist villages in the world. She shared that she first visited the village in 2018 and joined a group of local residents involved in tourism as a facilitator. Her task was to apply university knowledge and professional experience to help develop the marine tourism sector.
Local residents in southern Iran have a unique value chain that can be compared to a table where the usual slogan 'from farm to table' is replaced by the concept of 'from sea to table,' adorned with the Badil rug. These people have hosted both domestic and international tourists for over ten years, recognizing the economic benefits of tourism. Furthermore, in 1385 (2006–07), they secured a spot and equipment for a tourist pier in the mangrove forest.
The expert was particularly impressed by the community's behavior: residents of the southern region fed migratory birds. When the tide recedes and exposes the mangrove forest, people go fishing, and the birds feed on the fish. Abandinzadeh emphasized that she had never seen bird hunting in southern Iran, and the locals responded that the birds receive their share from the sea, just as people benefit from the sea.
This broad view of nature is also evident in the care for the mangrove swamps. During the Kongeh Harra season, young shoots are collected, and children take responsibility for growing mangrove saplings at home. This demonstrates the social and intellectual maturity of the community: they benefit from nature but also bear responsibility for its preservation.
Mangrove forests are tropical forests whose roots are adapted to submersion in water and filter it. They are capable of desalting seawater through three layers of roots, producing fresh water for the trees. Numerous aquatic creatures, such as crabs and mudskippers, inhabit these tangled roots.
The mangrove forest ecosystem includes shrimp, Gariz fish, and Jahro fish. This system has self-regenerated for millennia, benefiting humanity. The mangrove forest has been designated a biosphere reserve, meaning that local residents are custodians of these resources on behalf of the entire world and are obliged to use them responsibly for future generations.
These forests are registered in the Kish Geopark. The Kish Geopark became the first geopark in West Asia, and today there are three UNESCO geoparks registered in Iran.
Sustainable tourism emerged after the CoP20 summit with the goal of ensuring a more sustainable future for natural heritage. Initially, it aimed to study and minimize the negative consequences of tourism. However, experience showed that completely eliminating negative impacts is impossible, so the goal of sustainable tourism is to further increase positive effects.
Regenerative tourism represents a new paradigm. It involves working collaboratively with local communities through participatory approaches, allowing them not only to manage the impact but also to do what is truly right. Unlike sustainable tourism, which always opposed mass tourism, the regenerative approach asserts that ten destructive tourists can cause more harm than one hundred tourists who respect nature and the local community.
Regenerative tourism goes beyond sustainability, adding a new dimension. For instance, during the Kongeh Harra planting season, local residents involve tourists in the process. The Chichak-haie Harrae Soheyli event allows children to independently collect mangrove seeds in the forest and then show the growing process to visitors. A tourist can participate in planting ten saplings.
Thus, every tourist becomes a kind of cultural ambassador. It is visible that thanks to tourism, young people are starting to become interested in village life. An example from Kish City: a property owner returned to the village, opened an eco-lodge, and now lives there. This is an example of creating entrepreneurship that allows people to earn a living while remaining connected to their identity.
Another example of community participation is fresh fish caught the same day, which the village women prepare in local restaurants. Regenerative tourism offers deep experiences, such as making Nane to-mushi bread, where tourists can participate in baking.
Traditionally, major cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, Tabriz, Kazvin, and Kermanshah, as well as the green cities of the northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran, were considered tourist destinations in Iran. However, in recent years, there has been an increased focus on Iranian villages.
Previously, the classic route often started in Tabriz, passed through Kazvin, Tehran, Kashan, Isfahan, Yazd, Kermanshah, and Shiraz. But since approximately 2017, rural tourism has been gaining momentum. People are tired of the mechanized urban lifestyle and are seeking authentic Iranian culture surrounded by nature, which they remember from stories.