ABORA EXPEDITIONS:

REGENERATIVE TOURISM AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN POST-ERUPTION VOLCANIC LANSDCAPES

Abora Expeditions is a pioneering initiative in the Canary Islands that redefines tourism as a force for regeneration (Fig. 1). Rooted in the principles of ecological restoration, scientific collaboration and cultural resilience, it offers transformative expeditions where visitors become active participants in the recovery of vulnerable territories. Unlike conventional tourism models that often extract more than they give back, Abora designs experiences where science, nature, and local identity converge, creating measurable positive impact. Each expedition is co-developed with local communities and scientific partners, combining storytelling, citizen science, and field-based activities that connect travellers with the ecological and cultural processes shaping island landscapes (Iniciativa Global de Turismo Regenerativo, 2025). The Tajogaite volcano—a site marked by destruction but also by resilience (INVOLCAN, 2025)—is now a central axis of Abora's work. Its recent eruption created a mosaic of new geological formations, redefined forest boundaries, and initiated complex processes of marine-terrestrial recolonization. Abora leverages this unique setting as a living laboratory, offering activities such as ecological monitoring, volcanic ecology workshops, and field expeditions designed to interpret and actively support the regeneration of post-eruption ecosystems (PLOCAN, 2025). Abora’s regenerative model includes reinvestment of expedition income into local restoration projects, supporting native biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods, and the circular economy (Agenda Canaria 2030, 2025) Its approach is grounded in collaboration with local scientists, guides, artists, and elders—ensuring that knowledge exchange is mutual and that the impact extends beyond the visit. Strategic pillars include:

• Citizen science in disturbed and recovering ecosystems.

• Revalorization of geocultural heritage through immersive learning.

• Integration of Blue-Green Tourism in coastal and terrestrial zones.

• Strengthening local-global alliances for long-term stewardship.

Tajogaite is reframed not as a wound, but as an open classroom and a catalyst for innovation in tourism and conservation. Abora Expeditions presents a replicable, scalable model of regenerative travel, offering a new paradigm where exploration becomes restoration, and every journey becomes part of a shared effort to heal and reimagine island territories. (UN TOURISM, 2025)

REFERENCES

INICIATIVA GLOBAL DE TURISMO REGENERATIVO (2025). Impulsamos una visión del turismo que mejora la relación del ser humano con la naturaleza. Accessed July 2025, from https://turismoregenerativo.org/

PLATAFORMA OCEÁNICA DE CANARIAS - PLOCAN (2025). Accessed July 2025, from https://plocan.eu/

INVOLCAN (INSTITUTO VOLCANOLÓGICO DE CANARIAS) (2025). Accessed July 2025, from https://involcan.org/]

UN TOURISM (2025). Accessed July 2025, from http://www.unwto.org

GOBIERNO DE CANARIAS (2025). Agenda Canaria 2030. Accessed July 2025, http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/agendacanaria2030