Travel to a thriving future is Queenstown Lakes’ roadmap to regenerative tourism by 2030. This is an exciting journey that brings opportunities for everyone in the region and greater well-being for people and the planet. Regenerative tourism goes beyond typical sustainability projects that minimise environmental harm. Instead, it contributes holistic value that benefits communities, the environment, and the economy.
This Regenerative Tourism Plan is an output and a priority initiative of the Grow Well | Whaiora Spatial Plan. A Destination Management Steering Group (DMSG) comprised of Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism, and Queenstown Lakes District Council developed this plan with input from the Department of Conservation and Kāi Tahu. The DMSG has led a thorough public engagement process and is grateful for many forms of input and feedback. The process has ensured that the values and vision of local communities, including iwi, are strongly represented in the resulting strategy.
Section 1 outlines the current situation, including the significant opportunities and challenges in moving toward regeneration. This includes impacts on communities, the environment, and the economy.
Section 2 outlines the vision, the purpose of the visitor economy, and Kāi Tahu values, as well as core values and guiding principles for the visitor economy.
The plan establishes a vision: travel to a thriving future. It guides Queenstown Lakes on a journey towards regenerative tourism by 2030.
Section 3 outlines the four strategic priorities:
Projects are defined for each strategic pillar. The keystone project is decarbonisation: reaching carbon zero by 2030. Completing this project is both a prerequisite to creating a regenerative economy, and it is a key enabler of other projects.
Section 4 defines the governance structure, the 7-30-90 model for implementation, and the year-one projects, which include the foundational projects.
The appendices define key concepts such as destination management, the visitor economy, regenerative tourism, decarbonisation, and carbon zero.
Together, the Queenstown Lakes District has the opportunity to rethink how the visitor economy works and to imagine how it can deliver social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits through tourism that also provides exceptional visitor experiences.
Executive Summary
Section 1. Current State
Section 2. Community Vision for Tourism
Section 3. Regenerative Tourism Plan
Section 4. Governance, Management and Implementation
Appendices
Travel to a thriving future is Queenstown Lakes’ roadmap to regenerative tourism by 2030. This is an exciting journey that brings opportunities for everyone in the region and greater well-being for people and the planet. Regenerative tourism goes beyond typical sustainability projects that minimise environmental harm. Instead, it contributes holistic value that benefits communities, the environment, and the economy.
This Regenerative Tourism Plan is an output and a priority initiative of the Grow Well | Whaiora Spatial Plan. A Destination Management Steering Group (DMSG) comprised of Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism, and Queenstown Lakes District Council developed this plan with input from the Department of Conservation and Kāi Tahu. The DMSG has led a thorough public engagement process and is grateful for many forms of input and feedback. The process has ensured that the values and vision of local communities, including iwi, are strongly represented in the resulting strategy.
Section 1 outlines the current situation, including the significant opportunities and challenges in moving toward regeneration. This includes impacts on communities, the environment, and the economy.
Section 2 outlines the vision, the purpose of the visitor economy, and Kāi Tahu values, as well as core values and guiding principles for the visitor economy.
The plan establishes a vision: travel to a thriving future. It guides Queenstown Lakes on a journey towards regenerative tourism by 2030.
Section 3 outlines the four strategic priorities:
Projects are defined for each strategic pillar. The keystone project is decarbonisation: reaching carbon zero by 2030. Completing this project is both a prerequisite to creating a regenerative economy, and it is a key enabler of other projects.
Section 4 defines the governance structure, the 7-30-90 model for implementation, and the year-one projects, which include the foundational projects.
The appendices define key concepts such as destination management, the visitor economy, regenerative tourism, decarbonisation, and carbon zero.
Together, the Queenstown Lakes District has the opportunity to rethink how the visitor economy works and to imagine how it can deliver social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits through tourism that also provides exceptional visitor experiences.
Executive Summary
Section 1. Current State
Section 2. Community Vision for Tourism
Section 3. Regenerative Tourism Plan
Section 4. Governance, Management and Implementation
Appendices
.webp)