Regenerative tourism: Perceptions and insights from tourism destination planners in Aotearoa New Zealand

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘regenerative tourism’ has emerged as a promising alternative to the unsustainable growth paradigm underpinning traditional tourism practices. While this topic is increasingly explored in conceptual terms, what this approach means conceptually and in practice for a range of destination management stakeholders remains unclear. The present study analysed the meanings, conceptualisations and practices associated with regenerative tourism for destination planners in Aotearoa New Zealand. Eighteen interviews were conducted with a diverse range of destination planners at regional and national levels. The findings indicate that regenerative tourism involves improving places, which comprises giving back to communities economically, socially and culturally, and enhancing local environments; as well as fostering a connection with place for both visitors and local residents, and focusing on how tourism can improve quality of life (human and nonhuman) for future generations. Other prominent themes include the holistic and interconnected nature of regenerative tourism practices; and the importance of shifting mindsets and tourism practices from mechanistic and siloed, to those aligned with living systems approaches. Another key finding was destination planners' ambivalence towards the regenerative tourism concept, which ranged from a sense of uncertainty and vagueness about this approach to strong sentiments of resistance. Further studies, particularly those that integrate indigenous worldviews, are needed to consolidate our understanding of regenerative tourism approaches in practice.