Conceptualising Community Responses to Regenerative Processes in Flinders Island

The concept of regenerative tourism assumes sustainable use of natural resources, protection of cultural heritage, and the strengthening of the economic and social fabric of local communities (Jung et al., 2015). It has its genesis in agriculture and is a rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems with a focus on soil healing, diversity, and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere (Bellato, Frantzeskaki & Nygaard, 2021). Regenerative tourism puts the community first, prioritizing sustainable economic growth, environmental preservation, and social wellbeing. While there has been a lot of discussion on regenerative tourism in recent years, there is a lack of studies that examine the different viewpoints of regenerative tourism within a specific region. Moreover, many of the studies have been conducted by researchers with a Western-focused background. There is a lack of research exploring the concept from a non-white and culturally diverse background, which is needed for the concept to be better understood and applied in a culturally sensitive and holistic way. In this case study, the perspectives of 30 residents were collated on Flinders Island, Tasmania. The research approach focussed on eliciting residents' diverse and nuanced perspectives, particularly examining their desires regarding intervention and change. This paper highlights the findings of the study, including how the community views regenerative processes and the different views on regenerative tourism that exist within the community. In doing so it answers the following questions: how does the community view the tourism industry on Flinders Island? What does regenerative tourism mean to the Flinders Island community? What do residents see as aspects of tourism that require attention? Ultimately, this paper provides insight into the community's opinions on regenerative tourism and highlights the areas of improvement. The implications of the lead researcher as being from a non-white background will also be discussed within this presentation.