The Outdoor Recreation Network (ORN) hosted over 50 delegates at the 2025 annual conference ‘Outdoor Recreation as a Catalyst for Regenerative Tourism’ between the 16th and 18th June 2025 at The Sill in Northumberland National Park.

Outdoor recreation has a vital role to play in regenerative tourism across these Isles. This conference built on the ORN Action Plan 2022-2025, which called for cross-sector collaboration on sustainable tourism principles. Since then, the conversation has shifted to include from sustainability to regeneration – actively restoring landscapes, strengthening communities, and enhancing visitor experiences.

This two-day event brought the outdoor recreation and tourism sectors together to explore how outdoor recreation can drive regenerative tourism and establish key principles and best practices. It aligns with themes in the new ORN Action Plan 2025-2028, including Protecting Nature and Responsible Access, Climate Impact Management, Maximising Impact with Limited Resources, Inclusion and Diversity, and Sustainable Development.

Watch-on-demand – Pre Conference Webinar

On Thursday 15th May ORN hosted a pre conference webinar that well and truly lay the groundwork for the key themes and issues being explored at the upcoming conference. 

As the tourism and hospitality sectors navigate unprecedented change — from shifting demographics and technology to the rising demand for sustainability — regenerative tourism is emerging as a bold and necessary evolution. But what exactly is regenerative tourism, and why does it matter?  For the outdoor recreation sector, it’s especially important: outdoor spaces are where the principles of regeneration come to life — restoring landscapes, strengthening local communities, and creating meaningful, low-impact visitor experiences. By understanding regenerative tourism, the sector can help lead the way in shaping a more resilient and responsible future for both people and nature. 

This webinar led by experts from the University of Sunderland and Munster Technological University: 

* Introduced the fundamentals of regenerative tourism — what it means to move beyond sustainability to actively improving destinations, communities, and ecosystems. 

* Explored key drivers shaping today’s tourism landscape, from eco-conscious travellers to new business models.

* Shared practical examples of how businesses and communities are embracing regenerative practices.

* Highlighted tools, resources, and training opportunities to help organisations and practitioners start their regenerative journey.