Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.51650/ezrvs.19.3-4.3
From Sustainability To Regeneration: Conceptual Framework And Potentials For The Development Of Regenerative Tourism In The Dalmatian Hinterland
Davorka Mikulić
; Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Abstract
In light of increasingly frequent crises of various origins, as well as the challenges posed by mass tourism, recent years have seen growing academic interest in the study of regenerative tourism. This paper explores the conceptual evolution of tourism from the paradigm of sustainability toward that of regeneration, and analyzes the potential for applying the latter in rural areas. Based on a review of the scientific literature, the paper identifies key theoretical contributions, principles, and approaches shaping contemporary understandings of regenerative tourism. Through an analysis of empirical studies, dominant themes and concepts are highlighted, including human–nature reciprocity, justice, community empowerment, knowledge pluralism, and net-positive impacts. The case study of the Dalmatian hinterland (Split’s rural region) critically compares these principles with local development patterns and assesses existing potentials and limitations. Based on the findings, recommendations are formulated for institutional strengthening, collaborative governance, fiscal justice, and systematic monitoring of regenerative outcomes. The analysis demonstrates that the Dalmatian hinterland possesses a strong foundation for transitioning from sustainability to regeneration, yet requires the establishment of more robust organizational structures and impact indicators. The results contribute to the theoretical elaboration and practical operationalization of regenerative tourism in both the Croatian and broader Mediterranean context.
Keywords
regenerative tourism; sustainable tourism; rural development; Dalmatian hinterland; tourism and community.
Hrčak ID:
341516
URI
Publication date:
23.12.2025.
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