2026 Otago Tourism Policy School
Te Rā | Date: Thursday 26 - Friday 27 March 2026
Te Wāhi | Venue: Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park
Theme: What should tourism look like in 2050?
Envisioning Aotearoa New Zealand's future through emerging technologies and the Tourism Growth Roadmap
The global tourism system is changing rapidly, shaped by technological innovation, environmental pressures, and rising geopolitical uncertainty. These shifts are transforming tourism demand - how visitors engage and experience tourism, and tourism supply - how destinations, communities, environments, infrastructure, and distribution systems adapt and operate.
In this context, the 2026 Otago Tourism Policy School (TPS) will explore what tourism in Aotearoa New Zealand should look like in 2050, and how policy can help guide this future. Discussion will centre on MBIE's proposed Tourism Growth Roadmap and the role of emerging technologies - including immersive digital experiences, smart infrastructure and destination management, artificial intelligence, and data analytics - in enhancing visitor experiences and tourism operation, strengthening environmental stewardship, and supporting community wellbeing.
Sessions will also encourage critical reflection on how technological innovation can align with New Zealand's regenerative tourism aspirations and the values of kaitakitanga (guardianship), manaakitanga (hospitality), and whanaungatanga (connection).Bringing together leaders from government, industry, academia, and communities, TPS 2026 aims to spark evidence-based, future focused dialogue on how tourism can contribute meaningfully to Aotearoa New Zealand's people and places.
Please note that the Otago Tourism Policy School will be operating under the Chatham House Rule: Anyone attending is free to use information from the discussion but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed. The Chatham House Rule does not apply to Session 1.