Motivation
This project was born from a personal interest in contributing to the transformation of Colombia into a much more sustainable country. Motivated by my passion for nature and traveling to explore and discover different cultures, I saw regenerative tourism (traveling to generate a positive impact both on local populations and on the ecosystem of the place) as an opportunity to contribute to the conservation of biological and cultural diversity of the country.
Problem
Poorly managed tourism practices often overlook planetary boundaries, negatively affecting the environment and biodiversity, and causing social tensions. They exploit local populations and resources without giving back, endangering cultural heritage. Despite being the second most biodiverse country, Colombia struggles with these issues. While there's potential for ecosystem conservation and regeneration to combat climate change, it's economically challenging for local communities and often unsafe due to the high rate of environmental leader killings.
Academic research and user research
I began my research with important concepts such as sustainability, planetary boundaries, climate change, the greenhouse effect, typologies of tourism and its impacts on society and the environment. Finally, digging deeper into the ambiguities of sustainable tourism, I found out about regenerative tourism.
It was also important for my research to study Colombia's posture and progress towards more sustainable tourism and development, taking into account its great biodiversity. Finally, I looked out for tourism and customer trend forecasts to broaden my perspective regarding what people are looking for in terms of sustainability and travel.
Methodology
Design Thinking
Concept map about sustainability and tourism
Conserva homepage
Conserva
2022
My thesis project explores the impact Regenerative Tourism can have on the conservation of Colombia's ecosystems and climate change mitigation. It proposes a digital platform, Conserva, which enables travelers interested in nature and/or community-based learning to find conservation projects they can visit.
Beyond showcasing regenerative tourism and learning experiences, Conserva aims to provide economic alternatives to communities dedicated to conserving the environment, culture, and mitigating climate change, making it economically sustainable for them.
Design Thinking
Branding
User research
UI