Beyond Sustainability
Building Climate-Resilient Tourism in the Heart of the Andes
Doing less harm is no longer enough.
What if sustainability is no longer enough?
Across Latin America’s mountains, rivers, and rainforests, tourism once meant preservation. “Do less harm,” we said. “Reduce, reuse, recycle.”
But the climate crisis has changed the equation. Doing less harm is no longer sufficient when ecosystems are collapsing, rainfall patterns are shifting, and livelihoods are at risk.
In Colombia’s Andean heartland, particularly in Risaralda, the question is no longer how to sustain the environment — but how to help it recover.
The Andean Wake-Up Call
A 2025 report from the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira reveals that climate change is reshaping the Coffee Region’s destiny. Irregular rains, rising temperatures, and erosion threaten the agricultural and tourism sectors alike.
Mountain lodges built on unstable slopes, rural communities relying on vulnerable crops, and roads damaged by landslides show a region on the edge of adaptation. The same lush landscapes that attract travelers are increasingly exposed to extreme weather.
In this reality, “green tourism” is only the starting point. The future demands resilient tourism — an approach that sees every hotel, farm, and experience as part of an interconnected ecological system.
Resilience as Design
Resilience is not a concept. It’s a design principle — one that integrates climate adaptation into the DNA of tourism.
A climate-resilient lodge doesn’t just minimize waste; it’s built to withstand storms and regenerate its surroundings.
A coffee finca that welcomes travelers isn’t just scenic; it’s experimenting with soil regeneration, native reforestation, and water retention.
A travel experience isn’t only about storytelling; it’s a process of restoring both land and meaning.
In Risaralda, several projects are already reimagining what this looks like:
Farmers integrating agroforestry systems to protect crops and biodiversity.
Architects designing bioclimatic buildings that blend into the topography and respond naturally to temperature shifts.
Local cooperatives creating community-based resilience plans for floods, droughts, and soil degradation.
These are not acts of fear — they are acts of foresight.
From Visitors to Co-Creators
The regenerative paradigm invites travelers to participate. Not as spectators, but as allies.
Imagine a tourism model where each visit helps plant a forest, restore a watershed, or support an indigenous climate initiative. Where each journey deepens local resilience instead of testing it.
This shift redefines luxury itself: from comfort to connection, from exclusivity to continuity.
Luxury becomes the ability to coexist with a living landscape — to adapt together.
The Regenerative Andes
As the Andes rise above the mist each morning, they remind us that resilience is not resistance; it’s renewal.
Tourism can either amplify vulnerability or become a vessel for healing. The choice lies not in distant policies, but in the design of every journey we take.
In the end, regeneration is not a destination — it’s a direction.
Perhaps the true measure of progress is not what we build, but what endures.
References:
Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira. (2025). Vulnerabilidad frente al cambio climático en territorios, agroecosistemas e infraestructuras residenciales y turísticas de Risaralda.
United Nations Environment Programme. (2024). Climate Adaptation and Resilient Infrastructure in Tourism.
World Economic Forum. (2023). Building the Future of Resilient Destinations.
WTTC. (2023). A Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism.
