The course, which is a collaboration of Rewilding Chile and Chile's national tourism ministry (Sernatur), national park service (Conaf), and national economic development agency (Corfo), is part of a long-term strategy to consolidate the "Patagonia Parks Route." The course is also part of the Mesoregional Strategic Program (PEM) “Route of the Patagonia Parks: World Destination for Nature and Conservation,” an initiative that seeks to strengthen local tourism offerings with products and services that value and protect local ecosystems.

 

"We hope that tourism professionals will understand the value of the Patagonia Parks Route as a powerful tool for conservation and economic development. We want them to become ambassadors of sustainable tourism, inspired by successful models of conservation and partnership,” says Carolina Morgado, Rewilding Chile's executive director.

 

This organization has been working for years to position the tourism route, touring the territory, training tourism informants, park rangers and local operators to create conscious and responsible tourism.

 

The course is structured in 9 modules and 12 lectures, all given by recognized experts in conservation, biodiversity and sustainable tourism. Participants are expected to acquire a deep understanding of the value of the parks route and become spokespersons for regenerative tourism, an approach that not only seeks to maintain environmental balance, but to return to the ecosystem the benefits that have been taken from it. 

"It is no longer enough to be solely sustainable; it is necessary to regenerate," emphasizes Francisca Aylwin, coordinator of the Route of Patagonian Parks, who stresses that today's tourism initiatives should not only focus on economic development and environmental protection, but should also focus on active restoration and improvement of the natural environment. This vision goes beyond preserving ecosystems, seeking a positive impact that contributes to their regeneration and revitalization.

Responsible tourism is based on creating high-quality experiences that respect ecosystems and local communities. The aim is for tourists to understand the importance of their impact and become allies for the protection of the parks and local cultures. In the words of Cristóbal Benítez, national director of Sernatur, “tourism in Patagonia must offer high quality experiences that respect and protect ecosystems. This course is key to achieving this."

 

On the other hand, the concept of regenerative tourism goes one step further: instead of simply minimizing negative impacts, it is about restoring and revitalizing ecosystems and communities. This involves actively contributing to the recovery of biodiversity and the local economy, a fundamental objective for the Route of the Parks. Aylwin points out that "we want tourism professionals to fall in love with the territory, to value it, and that by working in it, they also contribute to its regeneration."

 

The course is open to all tourism professionals who live and work in the aforementioned regions. This includes not only those directly linked to nature tourism, but also those who work in areas that support tourism activity, such as restaurants and small businesses. "Any person linked to tourism can get involved in the program, even those who do not work directly in outdoor experiences," says Aylwin.

Aylwin adds that Rewilding Chile is looking forward to future versions of the course, expanding the call for participants to allow more people to be trained. “This will only be the first version, but the idea is that it will continue to be repeated over time, providing new training opportunities for the tourism sector."