A brief Coffee Table Chat |regeneration, conservation & the power of travel
One-on-One with Jesús Parrilla
What happens when a traveler becomes a guardian? In this intimate conversation, Jesús Parrilla invites us to rethink the role of travel in a rapidly changing world. From restoring wetlands to revitalizing traditions, he speaks to a future where tourism heals rather than harms—and where every journey has the power to regenerate. Pull up a seat at the Coffee Table and explore how crises can become catalysts, landscapes can come back to life, and travelers can become agents of change.
- WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL, WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST?
What excites me is the shift that’s happening—slowly but surely. People are beginning to understand that travel isn’t just about sightseeing; it’s about meaning. The best journeys aren’t about checking boxes—they’re about transformation, about deep connection with nature, culture, and oneself.
The future belongs to experiences that heal the land, restore ecosystems, honor traditions, and leave travelers forever changed and inspired. I want to see more projects that act as catalysts for regeneration, where tourism isn’t an extractive force but a restorative one. That’s the direction we need to go.
2. IS THERE ANY INSPIRATION OUT THERE IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES YOU HOPE FOR THIS KIND OF TRAVEL?
Absolutely. There are many inspiring examples of conservation and regenerative travel, and we don’t have to look as far as Africa to find them. Just take the United States—look at Ted Turner, for example. What he has done to regenerate land across different parts of the country is remarkable. His work in Northern and Southern New Mexico stands out as a masterclass in large-scale conservation. He didn’t just acquire land—he healed it. He restored native grasses, reintroduced wildlife, and proved that regeneration isn’t just possible—it’s essential. That’s the kind of bold vision we need more of.
3. YOU OFTEN TALK ABOUT USING TROUBLE-TURNING CRISIS INTO OPPORTUNITIES. CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT APPLIES TO CONSERVATION?
Trouble is just another word for transformation waiting to happen. Look at degraded landscapes—places stripped of biodiversity and identity. That’s trouble. But within trouble lies the seed of something new—if we choose to act. A great example is the wetlands restoration projects in areas where tourism and industrial development have nearly destroyed fragile ecosystems. Instead of abandoning these places, we can invest in their revival—restoring mangroves and wildlife corridors, bringing back keystone species, and working with local communities to turn them into living laboratories of resilience. The same applies to cultural conservation. Where languages and traditions are vanishing, we have a chance to revitalize them through meaningful, immersive experiences. Travel can—and must—be a tool for healing.
4. IF THERE WAS ONE MESSAGE YOU COULD LEAVE TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRAVELERS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?