Have you heard? Queenstown, New Zealand is on a journey to regenerative tourism. We're aiming for a carbon zero visitor economy by 2030.

We’re working to change the way people travel for good with our goal to be a regenerative destination by 2030. It’s a world first.

So, what exactly does this mean? And how are we going to get there? Scroll to learn more about Queenstown’s journey to regenerative tourism.

Why Queenstown?

Since the late 1800s, Queenstown has been the home of countless adventures set to the stunning scenery and landscape we all love – you probably have some incredible memories here. In the 1950s, Queenstown became a pioneer in adventure tourism. Ever since then, people have been drawn here, and travel became the major economic driver for Queenstown Lakes.

Then, in 2020, our hiking and bike trails emptied, and the chairlifts stopped spinning. With a little bit more time on our hands, we could reflect on what a better future for Queenstown could look like.

We talked to our locals, our community, and our businesses to hear what they wanted for the future of this place. Their unanimous answers formed a plan to guide Queenstown's future. Together, we set a big, audacious goal...

By 2030, Queenstown will be a regenerative tourism destination with a carbon zero visitor economy.

How will we get to carbon zero?

Frankly, we’re not 100% sure. We know that some of the technology we’ll use to achieve this goal is yet to be invented. What we do know is that we’ll harness the pioneering spirit of Queenstown to innovate and reach our goal.

A team of industry experts and advisors, including scientific advisors, policy advisors, and government representatives – are working on solutions as we speak. These experts are working alongside our awesome local businesses and organisations who are already on the regenerative journey.

We believe that working together is key to achieving goal.

What's been done so far?

Since launching our regenerative tourism plan in November 2022, we've released a discussion paper on our roadmap to decarbonisation and started to implement some of the 23 projects in the plan. We've also launched the community fund, Love Queenstown.

Next up, is our optimal visitation plan project which will help us understand the environmental and economic impact visitors have on the region, to make sure we have the infrastructure we need into the future.

Becoming a regenerative destination is a journey. We’re not afraid to try things, get them wrong, and share our progress.

Regenerative [adjective]: "Move beyond sustainable. Creating an environment, a place, and an economy for Queenstown that is circular in nature and gives back more than it takes."

Sign up to stay up to date on the Queenstown Lakes' journey to becoming a regenerative tourism destination and carbon zero by 2030.

Many local people and businesses in Queenstown were already taking regenerative action. We’re just helping create more momentum. Here’s a few of our local legends leading the way in this space.