The 7A’s Model Revisited: Integrating Regenerative Tourism Principles For Coastal Village Development

Abstract

The traditional 7A's model—Attractions, Accessibility, Amenities, Accommodation, Activities, Available Packages, and Ancillary Services—has long been used as a grounded framework for tourism development and destination competitiveness. Although effective in guiding infrastructure and service provision, its emphasis remains primarily on economic growth and visitor satisfaction, occasionally neglecting the active restoration of ecological systems and the revitalization of local cultures. A shift toward regenerative tourism is imperative in the context of coastal tourism, where environmental degradation, overtourism, and socio-cultural erosion are persistent alarms. This paper recommends a theoretical reconceptualization of the 7A's Model, positioning community wellbeing and ecosystem health at the core through a regenerative lens. By integrating principles of restoration, reciprocity, co-creation, and net positive impact into each element of the framework, the proposed Regenerative 7A's Model offers a pathway for coastal villages to transition from extractive to restorative tourism practices. The paper presents a conceptual framework that aligns destination planning with climate resilience, cultural preservation, and community empowerment, using the coastal region of Maharashtra as an illustrative context. This theoretical contribution aims to supplement tourism planning literature and provide policymakers, practitioners, and local stakeholders with a model that raises both competitive advantage and long-term socio-ecological sustainability.