This article theoretically grounds and analyses Regenerative Tourism as a new phenomenon and a transformative concept that goes beyond sustainability. The concept of sustainable tourism is currently only an insufficient minimum, because by focusing primarily on minimizing negative impacts, it ignores the need for active remediation. The aim of this article is to define regenerative tourism as a more advanced paradigm, moving from the principle of “do no harm” to the imperative of “actively restore”. Regenerative tourism focuses on the active restoration and revitalization of destinations, ecosystems and communities, with the aim of achieving a net positive impact. The theoretical grounding of regenerative tourism is realized through the identification of seven core principles, including environmental protection and regeneration, local socio-economic development, cultural heritage integration, co-design and collaboration, economic diversification, building and supporting relationships, and holistic impact assessment. Based on this theoretical framework, innovative Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are designed to measure active regeneration, behavioural change and community engagement. Structured into three pillars – environmental, social and cultural, and holistic impact, these KPIs provide a measurable framework to ensure that a destination is truly regenerating, thereby validating regenerative tourism as a transformative and practical concept.