Problematising inclusivity in regenerative tourism planning

At a conceptual level, discussions about regenerative tourism often speak to the need for a “paradigm change” and a “mindset shift.” Given that the notion of regenerative tourism is inherently place-based, there is a tendency in such discussions to highlight the importance of communities and business—in-place—to adapt to and drive required changes. In contrast, the tourist has been deprioritised. Based on an analysis of regional destination management plans in New Zealand, with a particular focus on the plans’ values-based segmentation, this study aimed to better understand the implications for the tourist of place-based regenerative tourism planning. Seen through a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) lens, with an emphasis on “inclusion,” our findings illustrate how, for the most part, values-based segmentation threatens to exclude tourists who are not deemed to be the right “fit.” Paradoxically, such exclusionary discourse is at odds with the principles of inclusion that appear central to regenerative tourism. It is argued that if regenerative tourism—both locally and “at large”—is to become a collective and co-created reality, a more inclusive view of regenerative transformation would be driven by an openness to potential of diverse groups of tourists.