'Tourism for a Better Future' regenerative tourism strategy to be enhanced following feedback

'Tourism for a Better Future', the draft destination management strategy for the Queenstown Lakes, is being revised and improved based on feedback from members, industry, the community and with the support of international destination management experts Destination Think. CEO Rodney Payne will visit Queenstown in mid-November (see profile below).

Members are invited to attend a meeting with Destination Think for an update on the revised strategy and next steps with implementation on Wednesday 16 November, 4:00 – 6:00pm at the Crowne Plaza. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and Rodney Payne will join us for networking drinks at the end of the meeting.   Please RSVP below. 

The 'Tourism for a Better Future' draft strategy is centered around tourism supporting thriving communities in the Queenstown Lakes; not just economically but also socially, culturally, and environmentally.  The strategy is an output of the Grow Well | Whaiora Spatial Plan, a formal partnership between QLDC, Kāi Tahu and the Crown.

The strategy was shared with the Queenstown Lakes community for feedback in August. There were over 1600 visits to our regenerative tourism website housing the strategy, more than 600 downloads of it and 33 pieces of detailed feedback received from both individuals and organisations.

The feedback was wide-ranging, across a variety of themes. The destination management plan steering group, (made up of representatives from Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism, and the Queenstown Lakes District Council) thoroughly reviewed all the feedback and considered the range of suggestions raised. Destination Think is supporting the steering group to develop and enhance the strategy further, based on the feedback received.

Community meetings will also be held in Wānaka, Queenstown and Glenorchy, details for the community meetings are on www.regenerativetourism.co.nz 

Destination Think CEO Rodney Payne 

For nearly two decades, Rodney has worked alongside destination marketers all over the world to inspire travel and develop thriving tourism economies. Under Rodney's leadership, Destination Think has produced the most ground-breaking projects in our industry working for DMOs like Destination British Columbia, Tourism Queensland, Travel Oregon, Colorado Tourism Office, Palau Visitors Authority, Aspen Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Revelstoke, Banff and Lake Louise Tourism, and Visit Big Sky.

Recently, Destination Think has led ground-breaking projects like Copenhagen's 'End of Tourism' strategy, Bay of Plenty’s ‘The Love of Tourism’ strategy, and Travel Oregon's ‘10-year Strategic Vision’.

Rodney has gathered extensive international experience across many cultures, including direct experience working in Australia, Canada, the United States and the Netherlands. The privilege to work with places throughout Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and throughout Canada has afforded him a global perspective across destinations of all sizes. Rodney joined Creative Destruction Lab as Founding Partner of CDL Climate to accelerate innovations that are needed to tackle one of humanity's most imminent challenges. He is an advisor to AirMiners and brokered a partnership with Musk Foundation's $100 million X Prize Carbon to develop Launchpad.

Stay informed:

• On our dedicated microsite for Regenerative Tourism by 2030
• In Fortnightly Remarks and some Special Remarks eDMs - update your email preferences here
• In our member-only LinkedIn group.