About

Discover more about Travel to a Thriving Future

This plan was created with and for the local communities.

Tourism is integral to the community and cannot be separated from it. Understanding what the people of Queenstown Lakes want from the visitor economy is essential. That's why the destination planning process is community-driven. This work stems from the district’s Whaiora | Grow Well Spatial Plan, with Kāi Tahu represented at the highest governance level. Partners have actively engaged with Kāi Tahu to ensure their involvement in developing the plan.

What is Regenerative Tourism?

Regenerative tourism has a net-positive impact on the environment, society, culture and the economy, aiming to create a more just, vibrant, and sustainable world. While sustainable tourism seeks to reduce travel’s potential harms, regenerative tourism takes a broader view, avoiding extractive economic models. It recognises that the visitor economy is part of an interconnected system.
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‍Simply put, regenerative tourism gives back more than it takes.
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‍It provides social, cultural, economic, and environmental benefits and is the best path towards a tourism industry that the Queenstown Lakes District can be proud of.

Vision

Matawhānui

Travel to a Thriving Future

Residents see tourism’s potential to ensure a thriving future for Queenstown Lakes and positively influence the world. This vision recognises that the visitor economy has an important role in achieving value economically, socially, culturally and environmentally.

How this plan came about

Travel to a Thriving Future has been developed as an output of the Whaiora | Grow Well Spatial Plan developed by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) with the support of Government which was adopted in 2021. The governance structure for the Spatial Plan includes representatives from QLDC, the Crown, Kāi Tahu, and Otago Regional Council.

Person standing beneath a waterfall in Wanaka Matukituki Valley

Partners

The Destination Management Plan is an outcome of collaboration between Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism, and Queenstown Lakes District Council, as well engagement with Kāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation.  In 2023, an independent board of directors was appointed to Destination Southern Lakes (DSL), a new destination management organisation for the Queenstown and Wānaka region. DSL will oversee the implementation of the region's destination management plan, Travel to a Thriving Future, which aims to make the visitor economy regenerative and carbon zero by 2030. The DSL board reports into the Spatial Plan governance group, ensuring alignment with broader regional planning initiatives.
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Lake Wanaka Tourism Logo Queenstown Lakes District Council Logo

Residents, visitors, and businesses

There are opportunities throughout Travel to a Thriving Future for community members, groups, industry and visitors to provide input. The partners and project teams will consult with these groups to ensure environmental and community priorities remain at the forefront.

Te Taiao (Environment) and Hapori (Community)

Regenerative tourism requires a community mindset. All the activities stemming from Travel to a Thriving Future respect the boundaries and needs of the natural world and local residents.

FAQ's

Who are the main stakeholders involved in this initiative?

The main stakeholders involved in delivering Travel to a Thriving Future are the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), Destination Queenstown (DQ), Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT), and the Destination Southern Lakes (DSL) Board Other stakeholders involved include Kāi Tahu, local community members, businesses, the Department of Conservation (DoC), and various tourism and environmental organisations working collaboratively to achieve the plan's goals.

What is Carbon Zero vs Carbon Neutral?

Carbon neutral means creating a balance between producing carbon and storing carbon so your net release of CO2 is neutral. Carbon neutrality is usually achieved by carbon offsetting, where destinations or organisations continue to produce CO2 and buy carbon neutrality through supporting offsetting schemes such as reforestation, conservation, or renewable energy.
Carbon zero is a step beyond carbon neutral. Offsetting emissions isn’t enough,  we’re eliminating fossil fuels and cutting carbon emissions so Queenstown has zero emissions by 2030.

How will the Queenstown Lakes District get to Carbon Zero by 2030?

To decarbonise means to eliminate the use of fossil fuels and rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions. For the most persistent emissions, we will remove carbon as close to the source as possible in time and distance. There are four key strategies for reaching carbon zero:
1) Mitigate emissions by deploying existing clean-energy solutions, fostering more rapid innovation, accelerating the adoption of existing technology, and making significant conservation efforts.

2) Understand optimal visitation levels and focus on value by increasing length of stay and/or yield per visitor and total revenue.

3) Evolve marketing plans and influence partner organisations to change the business mix, attracting market segments with lower carbon intensity and higher value.

4) Invest in carbon removal solutions on the path towards decarbonisation for difficult to abate emissions, in line with Oxford Principles.

How does regenerative tourism benefit the environment, community and economy?

Regenerative tourism benefits the environment by favouring sustainable practices that restore natural landscapes and reduce carbon emissions. Communities benefit from the preservation of their cultural heritage, as regenerative tourism values and promotes authentic experiences. Regenerative tourism places communities at the centre of decision-making processes, ensuring that benefits are distributed equitably and that local residents are involved in tourism-related initiatives. It can also support the economy by creating jobs, improving visitor experiences, and encouraging visitors to spend locally. Thus, we can foster economic resilience, increased community cohesion and a healthier environment for future generations through regenerative tourism.

How will the plan help improve resilience and productivity?

The plan will improve resilience and productivity by promoting sustainable practices, fostering a strong local economy, and providing resources for innovation. It encourages collaboration between businesses and supports workforce development. By enhancing the visitor experience and reducing environmental impact, businesses can attract more customers, reduce costs, and build a robust, future-ready economy.

I’m a resident. How can I get involved in the Destination Management Plan?

You can get involved in the Destination Management Plan by participating in community meetings, utilising feedback mechanisms. These will be communicated under the Community page here. Stay informed through updates on this website, and volunteer for initiatives that support sustainable tourism, and sign up to receive the Regenerative Tourism email updates. Your input and engagement are important in shaping a plan that reflects the community's values and needs!

I’m a business. How can I get involved in the Destination Management Plan?

You can get involved in the Destination Management Plan by, participating in community engagement sessions and aligning your business practices with the plan’s goals. Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism run member capability programmes designed to support members with both conventional marketing activity as well as regenerative tourism practices. This includes resources from experts in the fields of sustainable business practices, reducing waste, accessibility and inclusion.

I’m in the media. How can I get access to updates and progress reports on the plan?

Follow progress updates on each project by visiting the Projects page and visit the Media page for recent media releases and news. Other useful documents include the full Destination Management Plan document and Queenstown Lakes' Carbon Zero Discussion Paper. Contact info@regenerativetourism.co.nz if you have any further questions.

I’m a visitor. What is regenerative tourism, and how can it enhance my visit?

Regenerative tourism moves beyond sustainable tourism. Sustainable travel aims to leave no trace, but regenerative tourism goes one step further and aims to leverage tourism as a force for good, to make this place better than it is.

Being a regenerative destination means giving back more to our place and people than we take, so the Queenstown Lakes District becomes healthier and more resilient, protecting this place for future generations. We’re doing this by investing in our local community, restoring the environment, and becoming carbon zero by 2030.

Regenerative travel means you slow down, take your time to get to know and appreciate the people and place, forge connections with the community and give back to the place we all love.

The Queenstown Lakes region is full of things to do and places to stay and eat that care for our environment and our community. So, when you visit, we invite you to slow down, experience more and become a temporary local. As a visitor, you too can play a part in protecting the destination, ensuring that it remains beautiful for future generations.

How can I travel sustainably while visiting Queenstown Lakes?

You can contribute by choosing low impact accommodation and activities, reducing waste by bringing your own keep cup for coffees, using the provided recycling facilities, and respecting local wildlife and natural areas. Support local businesses, use public transportation (or take in the scenery on foot or by bike), and follow the Tiaki Promise to care for the environment. Being mindful of your impact, you help preserve the region's beauty for future visitors.
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Our visitor giveback programme, Love Queenstown, is an easy way to make sure your trip leaves more than just a lasting memory. It's a local community fund that supports climate, conservation and biodiversity projects in our region that make an impact.

Join the mission and support Love Queenstown, lend a hand by volunteering, or check out 10 handy Tiaki tips for treading lightly during your Queenstown stay. We need your help to preserve the beauty of this region for future visitors.

If you’re a visitor planning a holiday to Queenstown and or Wānaka, you can find travel tips and advice an activities and experiences through the official destination websites, QueenstownNZ.co.nz and LakeWanaka.co.nz.