Tourism Policy School Presentations

Overall TPS 2026 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

To download the PowerPoint presentation please click on the link:

Tourism Research Forum

James Mulcahy, Senior Economic Development Advisor, Queenstown Lakes District Council Professor James Higham and Yi Bian, Griffith University

Professor Susanne Becken, Griffith University

Joshua Ryan-Saha, Director of Tourism, Travel and Festivals, Edinburgh Futures Institutes

Session 2: Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Address Critical Tourism Challenges: Local, National & Global Perspectives

Professor Hemi Whaanga, Head of School, Te Putahi-a-Toi, at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa (Massey University)

Sir Rod Drury, New Zealander of the Year

Joshua Ryan-Saha, Director of Tourism, Travel and Festivals, Edinburgh Futures Institutes

Session 3: Opportunities and Challenges of Emerging Technologies: Learnings from global destinations and operations

Peter Haxton, Senior Policy Analyst, OECD

Tarek Habib, Co-Founder, Murmuration

Kiri Goulter, Managing Director, Kiri Goulter Consulting

Session 4: Implications of emerging technologies across the Aotearoa New Zealand system

Professor James Higham, Department of Tourism and Marketing, Griffith University

Professor Ali Knott, Victoria University of Wellington

Roger Sharp, Technology Queenstown