The Queenstown Lakes destination management plan (DMP) is officially underway.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillors signed off on the plan, ‘Travel to a thriving future’, at last week’s meeting, which marked the final formal step to adopt it.

The DMP is the region’s roadmap to becoming a regenerative tourism destination - one which gives back more than it takes - by 2030. 

The 61-page strategy outlines the current state of tourism, defines regenerative tourism and outlines 23 key projects to be delivered. 

The keystone project of the strategy is to rapidly cut emissions and make the visitor economy carbon zero by 2030. 

It is a partnership between Destination Queenstown (DQ), Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT), and the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), with input from Kāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation.

LWT chief executive Tim Barke said the DMP’s adoption followed two years of development and substantial community engagement.

“This collective vision provides opportunities for everyone in the region, as well as greater wellbeing for people and the planet.”

Read more: A closer look at ‘regenerative tourism’

Councillors were positive about the DMP at the meeting but cautioned that putting it into action was crucial. 

“How this is implemented is more important than the plan itself and that is the mahi that is yet to come...we all need to know it and bring it forward,” deputy mayor Quentin Smith said.

Mayor Glyn Lewer encouraged councillors, as leaders of the district, to “drive it” forward. 

“I think we can drive this plan to a great height and really endorse the change that has been called for.”

Preparations for the first initiative to come out of the DMP are well underway: A funding platform launching in early April will provide the opportunity for visitors and industry to support localised climate, conservation and biodiversity action.

In addition, a scoping report on the keystone ‘carbon zero by 2030’ goal is due by the end of March. 

Read the full DMP here.

PHOTO: Supplied