In 2026, the Skål Europe Sustainability Awards reach their sixth edition. Over the years, the Awards have provided Skål members with an opportunity to bring forward sustainability initiatives developed throughout the tourism sector, making practical experiences visible and allowing ideas to be shared across our international professional network. The purpose remains simple: […]
All about regenerative tourism
18 posts
Climate Change: Beyond Opinion, Into Evidence Climate change is frequently discussed through political, economic, or ideological lenses. Yet the evidence supporting its existence and impacts comes from a different source entirely: science. For decades, researchers have documented rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, more frequent and intense heatwaves, and increasing climate-related risks. […]
Why connectivity, destinations and tourism share a common responsibility Part of the Skål Europe Editorial Series on Regenerative Tourism. 1. Aviation Beyond Transportation On a summer morning, the first aircraft lands on a Mediterranean island. Within minutes, visitors disperse across the destination. Some will stay in family-run hotels, others will rent cars, […]
On 25 March 2026 at 18:00 CET, the Skål Europe Academy hosted an insightful online session exploring the strategic role of tourist guides in responsible tourism. Featuring Sarah Janning-Picker, Skål member and Area Representative of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, the webinar highlights how professional guides contribute to quality, cultural […]
An Interview with Tito Livio Mongelli Regenerative tourism is emerging as a key evolution of global travel, going beyond sustainability to actively restore ecosystems, communities, and local economies. In this conversation with Skal Europe, Tito Livio Mongelli, President of Galileo.it and Skal Italia, shares his perspective on how bioethics can guide the […]
In Italy, history is monumental, tangible, and immediately recognisable, and Italians are used to living in it. When I was a child, the Colosseum used to rise in the middle of traffic. Renaissance masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raffaello fill our museums. Entire towns like Florence, Siena, and Venice are themselves historical […]
A Skål Europe Academy session with WFTGA on training, standards, and new cooperation opportunities for Skål clubs and tourism professionals. A conversation with Tito Livio Mongelli ahead of the next Skål Europe Academy session On 25 March 2026 at 18:00 CET, the Skål Europe Academy will host an online session dedicated to […]
A Strategic Opportunity for Skål Europe and Its Members Tourism in Europe is evolving within an increasingly complex framework shaped by sustainability objectives, digital transformation, skills development, and European policy. For Skål Europe and its national clubs, this evolution represents not only a challenge but a strategic opportunity to reinforce leadership, relevance, […]
Tourism is at a turning point. Across Europe and beyond, destinations are facing mounting pressure from climate change, resource scarcity, social tension and economic volatility. In this context, simply maintaining tourism activity — or reducing its negative impacts — is no longer sufficient to secure long‑term viability. Recently, Skål Europe has published […]
A New Frontier for Tourism That Gives Back As the global travel industry continues to evolve in response to environmental and social change, a new paradigm is emerging that goes beyond sustainability: Regenerative Tourism. This concept challenges us not only to preserve destinations and communities, but to actively enhance them, leaving places […]
Why Creating Lasting Value Matters More Than One-Off Good Deeds In many destinations today, tourism is accompanied by gestures of goodwill. Visitors join beach clean-ups. Businesses plant trees. Donations are made to local causes. Short-term projects are launched with the best of intentions. These actions matter. They raise awareness, create moments of […]
What Changes in Practice When Tourism Becomes Regenerative For a long time, the tourism sector has tried to improve by learning how to do less harm. Energy efficiency became a priority. Waste was reduced. Emissions were measured. Visitor flows were managed more carefully. These efforts were necessary, and in many places they […]
When Long-Term Viability Matters More Than Short-Term Growth For decades, tourism has been one of Europe’s strongest economic engines. It has generated employment, supported regional development and connected cultures across borders. Growth was the dominant indicator of success: more visitors, more nights, more revenue. Today, that model is under strain. Across Europe, […]
Imagining Tourism That Strengthens Places Over Time Tourism remains a vital presence, visible, vibrant, and economically relevant. Cafés are open, guides are working, and hotels are occupied. Yet something feels different. The destination does not appear strained. It feels balanced, lived-in, confident in its own rhythm. Tourism no longer dominates the place. […]
When Change Is Driven by People, Not Badges Over the past two decades, tourism has increasingly relied on labels, certifications and global standards to demonstrate responsibility. Sustainability seals, rankings and benchmarks have multiplied, offering reassurance to markets and guidance to businesses. These tools have played a useful role. They have raised awareness, […]
On a summer afternoon in a historic European city, a resident watches yet another group of visitors pass beneath her window. Tourism brings life, employment, and cultural exchange—but it also brings noise, pressure on housing, and a feeling of loss of control. Across Europe, similar scenes unfold in cities, coastal regions, rural […]
Legal and Policy Framework, and Key EU Initiatives Tourism, Sustainability and the Role of the European Union Tourism is not regulated as a standalone policy area under European Union law. Instead, the EU plays a supporting and coordinating role, complementing the actions of Member States while shaping the broader legal and economic […]
Best Practices from Europe, for Europe On a quiet morning in a rural European destination, visitors gather not around a queue, but around a story. A local guide explains how tourism income helped restore a landscape, revive a tradition, or sustain a community. Nothing here feels spectacular—and yet, everything feels intentional. This […]