Regenerative tourism: The perspectives of visitors

Abstract

The rhetoric of regenerative tourism is increasing in academic literature and in the strategic documents of governments and tourism agencies, but there is less knowledge about whether this concept resonates with, or is understood by, tourists. To address this issue, a survey conducted with visitors to Akaroa [Aotearoa, New Zealand] explored international and domestic visitors’ knowledge about regenerative tourism, the importance of regenerative principles to their tourist experiences in New Zealand, and the extent to which their experiences in Akaroa met regenerative objectives. Findings reveal that a minority of tourists have a good understanding of what ‘regenerative tourism’ means, but the principles behind the term are generally recognised as important elements of a New Zealand tourist experience. In relation to the tourism system in Akaroa, while a substantial proportion of tourists felt unable to assess whether local tourism fufilled regenerative principles, those that did reported higher achievement of regenerative principles relating to the environment, than those relating to culture or the economy.