Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism in Bristol, Bath and the West of England
Visit West is committed to the impact of tourism and business events being a force for good. We recognise tourism's economic, social and cultural benefits while working to minimise its impact on our environment and residents. That includes our own operations, not just those of the businesses we support.
We support our members and local businesses to become more sustainable and purpose-driven, providing training, guidance, sharing best practices, accreditation signposting and providing practical resources to help the visitor economy thrive responsibly.
"By its very nature, tourism values the things that are most precious in our world: stunning landscapes, wildlife, history, culture and people. Tourism can be a catalyst for growth in the local economy, providing good quality jobs, opportunities for enterprise and funds for conservation. But if it is not managed well, tourism can have negative impacts on local communities and environments, creating long term problems for local residents, which can ultimately lead to the decline of tourism in the destination." - Travel Forward
Sustainable tourism is travel that minimises negative environmental, social, and economic impacts while generating benefits for local communities and conserving natural and cultural heritage.
Tourism should be viable long-term and not deplete the very resources that make a destination worth visiting in the first place.
Regenerative tourism goes a step further than sustainable tourism. Rather than simply minimising harm, it actively restores and improves the destinations it touches. The right kind of activity doesn't just sustain an ecosystem, it makes it more resilient over time.
So instead of reducing the negative impact of tourism, the actions of visitors can create a positive impact that actively restores and regenerates.
We inform, incentivise and support businesses and visitors to manage their impact by making choices that reduce their carbon footprint and bring it as close to zero as possible.
For visitors, this includes promoting good travel choices, promoting local services and suppliers especially retailers, and supporting local food and drink, promoting the sustainable credentials of places to stay and visit and encouraging good behaviour in the destination.
For businesses, this includes promoting good travel choices for staff and visitors, connecting to local suppliers, signposting good practice and advice for guests and visitors and highlighting sustainability commitments through accreditation schemes.We also identify times of the year and places that need visitors and prioritising demand marketing.
At Visit West, we will work with local partners and the public sector to ensure that activities taking place in the region relating to sustainability will be communicated to businesses working in the visitor economy as well as providing support, information and accreditation guidance for businesses and providing links to local sustainability support networks. Read our Sustainability Policy (PDF)
