Regenerative travel: How to give back when you’re studying abroad

You get so much out of a study abroad trip: learning a new language, discovering a new country, eating delicious food, making lifelong friends, and having an incredible adventure.

But have you ever thought about what the destination gets out of your visit? This is what the concept of regenerative travel seeks to answer: How can travelers leave a positive impact on the places they visit? 

In this article, we’ll explain a few simple ways you can give back on a study abroad trip.

But first: What is regenerative travel?

Regenerative travel is a concept that encourages travelers to help restore and rejuvenate the environment and local communities they visit. While sustainable and slow travel is certainly encouraged, the difference is that regenerative travel aims to actively improve the destination — leaving it just that little bit better than when you arrived. This might be through methods such as environmental restoration, cultural preservation, empowering marginalized groups, and engaging with the community

Let’s take a closer look at ways you can practice regenerative travel.

Stay with a host family

Staying with a host family during your study abroad trip is a great way to practice regenerative travel. You’ll get the chance to live like a local and learn about local traditions and customs, while also sharing yours, creating an authentic cultural exchange. Immersing yourself in the local culture will give you a greater insight into their way of life, improving cultural understanding. 

Take part in community initiatives

Actively seeking out ways to connect with your local community will allow you to create a deeper connection with the people of your host country and leave a positive impact. For example, if you are studying in Australia, a great way to get involved in regenerative tourism is by taking part in the national event, Clean Up Australia Day. Held annually on the first Sunday in March, the event sees thousands of locals head out to their local parks, beaches, or streets and clean up rubbish. Anyone is welcome to volunteer their time and it’s a great way to meet people in your neighborhood. 

Look after nature

The world is full of spectacular natural wonders to explore when traveling, and it’s important to protect them for future generations. Many destinations have introduced ways for travelers to enjoy nature, while also protecting it.

Costa Rica is renowned for its leadership in environmental sustainability. The country is famous for its diverse wildlife, rainforests, and beaches, and takes protecting its natural resources very seriously. To promote sustainable tourism, Costa Rica developed the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program, which provides guidelines for tourism companies to ensure they have a positive impact. This program helps visitors focused on regenerative travel plan more sustainable trips that benefit the community.

Volunteer

Volunteers are the lifeblood of many community organizations. If you have the chance, why not give your time to a cause you are passionate about? It could be something as simple as tutoring a student once a week in your local language, helping out at a soup kitchen, or even taking part in a citizen science initiative. Plus, getting out and meeting native speakers will improve your language learning.

Learn and respect local customs

Showing respect for the culture and traditions of the communities you visit is a key aspect of regenerative travel. In practice, this might mean learning about the traditional owners of the land you are on in Australia or wearing appropriate clothing when visiting places of worship. It could also mean following tipping etiquette (eg, tipping is expected in the U.S. but considered rude in Japan), and always seeking permission before taking photos of people, especially in culturally sensitive or private settings. 

Support local business

When studying abroad, choosing where to spend your money can have a significant impact on the community. Shopping at markets or thrift shops and dining at family-owned restaurants means the money you spend stays in the community.

Also, consider timing your travels in the off-season. Not only will you get to enjoy a destination without the busy crowds, but it also injects much-needed money into towns that attract tourists for just a few months of the year. This can stimulate the local economy and allow small businesses to continue to grow and reinvest, ensuring that benefits from tourism are distributed fairly.