About

The main stakeholders involved in delivering Travel to a Thriving Future are the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), Destination Queenstown (DQ), and Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT). 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.

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.

The district’s roadmap - A Pathway to Decarbonise, Queenstown Lakes’ Visitor Economy Decarbonisation Plan - outlines a practical pathway and key workstreams that turn ambition into progress.

The plan introduces five levers that capture the full picture of how emissions can be reduced across the entire visitor system - from the moment visitors begin their journey, to the choices they make during their stay, to the way the tourism economy operates.
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1) Decarbonise in-destination activities - switching to renewable energy, electrifying buildings and vehicles, reducing waste, strengthening food systems, and enabling low-emissions tourism experiences.
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2) Market mix - adjusting promotion and experience design toward visitor markets with a lower emissions profile and higher alignment with regenerative tourism values.
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3) Length of stay - supporting longer stays that increase visitor contribution while reducing emissions per trip.
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4) Decarbonise aviation - advocating for national and international progress on sustainable aviation fuels, electric and hydrogen propulsion, and supportive regulatory frameworks.

5) Remove residual emissions - using high-integrity, science-aligned carbon removals for the hardest-to-abate emissions, emphasising local ecological restoration where possible.

The plan details 10 interconnected workstreams each representing a major area of influence over visitor economy emissions. Read more about the workstreams and Decarbonisation Plan here.

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.

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.

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!

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 Wānaka 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.

Follow progress updates on each project by visiting the Progress page. 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.

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.

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 programmes, Love Queenstown and Love Wānaka 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 Wanaka.co.nz.