| This edition also continues the search for new operational models and large-scale financing solutions for International Geneva. |
With its first edition in 2001 and strategic redefinition in 2014, this Annual International Conference on Resilient and Responsible Travel and Tourism for Peace and Sustainable Development structures the yearly progress of tools and agile practices for the sector.
Monday, December 8, 2025 — UN Geneva, Room XII, Building A. Registration required.
The context: why tourism deserves to be rethought
- Tourism directly influences human well-being, especially when it takes place in natural environments. Studies show that traveling in nature generates more happiness than mere material consumption, activating both ’’hedonic’’ and ’’eudaimonic’’ forms of pleasure.
- Exposure to nature has measurable effects on mental health, helping reduce stress and depression — a major argument for integrating green tourism into public policy.
- It has now been demonstrated that low-carbon travel can be designed, where the travel program itself contributes to regenerating the planet (marine and terrestrial biodiversity, forests, corals, etc.).
- Individuals are driven by deep motivations when they travel: authenticity, exploration, prestige, escape.
- In the leisure experience, novelty and challenge enhance immediate pleasure while providing long-term meaning.
- Economically, tourism is a pillar of local growth and employment, but it also generates negative externalities that, when addressed through alternative travel models, can be neutralized or transformed into positive externalities.
The challenge is therefore not to restrict tourism, but to redirect its flows and models towards those that support local territories, preserve the environment, and create lasting value.
Regenerative Tourism: the Tool for Convergence
| Dimension | Objective | Example of Project |
| Social / solidarity-based | Redistribute value to local communities | Cooperative accommodations, locally impactful circuits |
| Ecological / climate-related | Restore ecosystems, capture carbon | Reforestation, marine conservation, ecological corridors |
| Economic / profitable | Attract private capital, create sustainable jobs | Hybrid business models, monetized ecosystem services |
| Diplomatic / institutional | Align public policies, ensure transparency | Sustainable tourism standards, incentive regulations |
Regenerative tourism is at the core of International Geneva’s priorities: it breaks down silos (ecology, economy, diplomacy, culture), while generating bankable models recognized by impact finance.
In this spirit, Portugal, through its Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, will co-develop the opening of the conference, highlighting the strategic importance of oceans in our planetary oxygen.
"With every three breaths in Geneva, two come from the Ocean, only one from the forests" — a reminder that urban climate agendas must incorporate marine resilience.
Program & Expected Content
Morning – Geneva, Monday, December 8, 2025
- 09:00–10:00: Welcome and ’’one-on-one meetings’’
- 10:00: Official Opening
• Opening remarks by Mr. Thomas Egli, Founder and Director of the Geneva Forum and protocols
• Interactive roundtable on the regenerative economy - 11:15: Opening speech by His Excellency Mr. João Mira Gomes, Ambassador of Portugal
- 13:00: Morning session closing
Afternoon - 14:00–15:00: Welcome & networking
- 15:00: Conference Opening
- 15:15–16:10: Pitch session (6-8 min max) – three themes:
1. Cross-cutting, inter-silo projects eligible for impact funding
2. Responsible tourism serving the Rights of Nature
3. New forms of ocean-positive tourism
- 16:20–17:25: Breakout group workshops
- 17:25–17:50: Interactive roundtable
- 17:50–18:00: Closing remarks and outlook
- 19:00: Networking dinner
At the end of the day, an official position statement will be published by the Forum.
Program and Registration
Visit the Conference page Responsible and Resilient Tourism.
Call for Contributions & Participation
Are you leading a resilient or regenerative tourism project?
Submit a summary via our call for contributions and take part in the collective development of tomorrow’s tourism agenda.
Participation Guidelines:
- Join the Event Membership to become an official participant
- Submit your project before the deadline
- Prepare your pitch and bring your partners
Partners & Institutional Outlook
- Permanent Mission of Portugal to the UN in Geneva – strong commitment to oceans and international governance.
- Objectif Sciences International (OSI) – pioneer in participatory science and scientific tourism.
- Terra Scientifica – convergence of tourism, participatory research, and science education.
- And various ministries, tourism agencies, organizations, NGOs, and institutions from International Geneva (The final program will be sent to registered participants via the website).
This conference will also be an opportunity to sign public-private partnerships, issue joint calls for innovation, and co-create projects at the intersection of finance, nature, and tourism.
In particular, the definition of cross-cutting impact projects, designed to be legible and eligible for funding sources from Impact Finance, will aim to attract new forms of financing to International Geneva.
In a Few Words
- A visual and emotional message: the metaphor of oxygen and the invisible role of the Ocean mirrors the daily work of those committed to the common good, who need the necessary energy (funding).
- A timely development: the UN proclaims 2027 as the International Year of Resilient Tourism.
- A bridge between economy, ecology, and diplomacy.
- Major institutional actors committed.
- Solid industrial, economic, scientific, and psychological foundations.
- A concrete gateway to action and funding.
What Future Developments from This Conference?
- Regenerative tourism enables sustainable economic returns while strengthening territorial resilience.
- When a traveler contributes to a meaningful project, each expense becomes in turn an impact investment.
- Hybrid models (’’blended finance’’, ecosystem services) make the sector legible to impact finance.
- Regenerative tourism can address all domains of International Geneva, Health, Human Rights, Labor, Technology, Ecology, Environment, Development, Climate, and many more.
- The emotional experience of responsible travel enhances enjoyment, loyalty, and word-of-mouth.
- Responsible tourism is a strategic convergence point between humanitarian action, ecology, and the economy.
Conclusion & Call for Media Support
The Geneva Forum 2025 positions regenerative tourism as a strategic transformation initiative: for territories, for economies, for the meaning of travel, and as a vector for cross-sector projects allowing International Geneva to tackle the challenges across all its sectors, making it more legible to alternative forms of financing.
We invite journalists, diplomats, tourism professionals, researchers, and leaders to amplify this event, propose topics, cover the debates, and join this dynamic.
Press Contact: contact@geneva-forum.com
Registration Website: Responsible and Resilient Tourism
Call for Contributions: New types of Regenerative Tourism
Thank you for your attention and support in spreading a form of tourism that engages, inspires, and creates shared value.