At think6, we have been working in regenerative tourism development since 2006. This was long before the term entered mainstream tourism thinking. From feasibility studies and experience development to rural tourism strategies, our work has always been guided by a simple belief: tourism should leave a place better than it found it.
As a regenerative tourism consultant in Ireland, we work with communities, local authorities, and organisations across the island to design tourism approaches that sustain local economies, protect natural and cultural assets, and create visitor experiences worth paying for.
From Numbers to Quality — The Shift to Regenerative Tourism
When think6 began working in tourism, success was measured in visitor numbers. The more, the better. Today, we know that quality overrides quantity.
A visitor who spends more time, engages more deeply, and connects more meaningfully with a place contributes far more. This could be to local economy, to community confidence, or to environmental sustainability.
Regenerative Tourism in Action — Bog Communities Across Ireland
One of our most compelling recent examples of regenerative tourism development in Ireland is our work with bog communities across multiple locations on the island.
These are communities that have been significantly impacted by the closure of peat processing plants. Livelihoods have been disrupted, and townlands, villages, and small towns are searching for sustainable futures. Tourism done regeneratively can offer a genuine pathway.
Our process with these communities followed a clear, proven structure:
- Idea-generating workshops — surfacing local assets, stories, and ambitions
- Individual community action plans — tailored, realistic, and locally owned
- Phased delivery pathways — with manageable steps that lead to visible change
A Word on Working with Volunteer Communities
We know that the people driving change in these communities are, overwhelmingly, volunteers. They are giving their time freely, alongside jobs, families, and everything else life demands. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and a regenerative tourism strategy won’t be either.
Our role is to provide a clear pathway which is manageable, not an overwhelming masterplan that sits on a shelf. If you’re part of a community group exploring how to develop regenerative tourism in a rural area, this is exactly the kind of grounded, practical support we offer.
Our Track Record
As a regenerative tourism development consultant in Northern Ireland and Ireland, think6 has a proven track record of supporting rural villages to leverage their assets and attract visitors in a more strategic, sustainable way.
Villages we have worked with include:
- Belleek Village — heritage-led village renewal connecting the Belleek Pottery story to the village
- Gortin Village — rural tourism development drawing on natural and landscape assets
- Swanlinbar Village — cross-border regeneration with a tourism dimension
- Ederney Village — community-led tourism strategy supporting local economic sustainability
What Regenerative Tourism Development Looks Like in Practice
Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to strengthen an existing tourism offer, our work as regenerative tourism consultants in Ireland typically spans:
Feasibility studies — is regenerative tourism viable for your community or area?
Experience development — designing visitor experiences that are distinctive, authentic, and financially sustainable
Village and community tourism strategies — integrated plans that connect heritage, landscape, food, craft, and community
Facilitated workshops and action planning — practical, participatory processes that build local capacity
Implementation support — staying involved through delivery, not just strategy
At think6, we have worked with many communities across Ireland and Northern Ireland to support and promote regeneration through rural tourism. We’d be glad to have that conversation with you.
You can read more about developing a regenerative tourism plan here.