This study examines the transition to a regenerative tourism approach through the experiential and transformative dimensions of tourist consumption, discussing the conceptual and practical limitations of the sustainable tourism approach, which has been accepted as the dominant paradigm in the field of tourism for many years. Criticism is growing in the literature that sustainable tourism is often addressed in terms of damage reduction and balancing, but fails to create a sufficiently transformative impact in the face of today's deepening environmental, social, and cultural crises. In this context, the study aims to reveal how tourism consumption is being reshaped away from a material product and service-oriented structure towards a search for meaning, experience, and personal transformation. A conceptual approach is adopted in the study; the changing nature of tourism consumption is examined within the framework of the experience economy and the transformation economy. Through transformational tourism theories, the lasting effects of travel experiences on individuals' values, behaviors, and life practices are discussed; the positioning of the individual as an active subject in the tourist experience is evaluated through the concepts of value co-creation and participatory tourism. In this framework, it is emphasized that the tourism experience is not merely a temporary consumption activity, but a process that can generate individual awareness, learning, and transformation. In the final section of the study, the regenerative tourism approach is discussed as a holistic model that aims to create a net positive impact beyond sustainable tourism, addressing ecological restoration, cultural and social revitalization, and social justice dimensions. In conclusion, the study argues that tourism can be a transformative tool for individuals, society, and the environment, and reveals that the conceptual shift from sustainability to regenerative tourism offers important theoretical insights into the future of tourism. Furthermore, the study emphasizes that adopting a regenerative approach in terms of tourism policies, destination management, and experience design is critically important for long-term resilience and ethical tourism practices, and provides guidance for future academic research.