CASE STUDY 2 New Zealand: Tourism as a vehicle for regeneration Challenge: Growing pressure on nature; cultural and heritage dynamics Enablers used: Infrastructure; finance; technology and innovation; people and skills; policy and governance New Zealand faced the tension points of environmental degradation and community friction as visitor numbers rose sharply in iconic destinations such as Milford Sound and Tongariro, creating congestion, environmental degradation and growing local frustration.37 Surveys indicated that a rising share of residents felt tourism was harming their quality of life. The country’s unique biodiversity and Māori cultural assets risked being commodified without benefit returning to custodians. New Zealand adopted a systemic approach, embedding conservation, infrastructure and community well-being at tourism’s heart through coordinated enablers. Financial coordination created the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, applying a fixed fee to most international arrivals with revenues earmarked for conservation projects, visitor amenities and community services.38 Infrastructure coordination expanded data platforms, integrating informationfrom airlines, accommodation providers and activity operators, giving regional bodies tools to manage flows rather than simply market their attractions. People and skills coordination established training pathways while integrating Māori communities through joint ventures and cultural authority in tourism products.39 Technology and innovation supported the Tiaki Promise, a nationwide code of care developed jointly by government, industry and iwi to set consistent expectations for visitor behaviour and operator practice.40 The results have been significant. Economically, tourism’s contribution to GDP reached NZ$ 41 billion ($24 billion) in 2019, with higher yields per visitor, as the levy enabled quality-over- volume strategies.41 More than 400,000 people were supported by tourism employment.42 Socially, resident sentiment stabilized, with surveys showing improved acceptance once communities saw levy-funded projects in their towns and cultural integrity respected. Environmentally, more than NZ$ 500 million ($290 million) in levy revenues have been invested in conservation and infrastructure, financing projects from trail upgrades to species protection.43 Ecological indicators in several national parks show stabilization despite continued visits. New Zealand demonstrated that growth aligned with regeneration can deliver prosperity, inclusion and environmental stewardship simultaneously. CASE STUDY 3 Singapore: Embedding tourism in a city-state strategy Challenge: Infrastructure and investment requirements Enablers used: Infrastructure; finance; technology and innovation; people and skills; policy and governance Singapore faced the tension point of balancing international competitiveness with urban liveability in one of the world’s most densely populated countries. By the early 2000s, pressure was rising to ensure tourism would not create isolated enclaves of luxury while undermining cultural authenticity and citizens’ quality of life or competing with residents for space and resources. Singapore integrated tourism fully into national development planning through coordinated enablers. Infrastructure coordination developed large-scale precincts such as Marina Bay and Sentosa as mixed-use environments combining attractions with housing, business facilities, public spaces and cultural venues.44 The Mass Rapid Transit system was extended to connect airports, attractions and residential districts seamlessly, ensuring that transport investments served both residents and visitors. Financial coordination aligned the Singapore Tourism Board with economic development agencies to tie tourism to broader growth priorities such as knowledge industries, events and education. Technology and innovation wove tourism into the Smart Nation initiative, positioning tourism as a test bed for technologies that later scaled into other urban systems. People and skills coordination created training programmes to ensure that skills could transfer between tourism and the wider services sectors. The impacts demonstrate how tourism can reinforce liveability when coordinated with urban goals. Economically, tourism receipts reached S$ 27 billion ($21 billion) in 2019,45 while the city remained among the top-ranked globally for quality-of-life indices. Employment in core tourism industries exceeds 71,000 people.46 Socially, residents reported strong support for festivals and cultural districts designed to enrich their own lives as much as those of visitors. Cultural programming at venues such as the Esplanade and National Gallery served both residents and tourists, while heritage districts were conserved as living neighbourhoods rather than staged museum pieces. Environmentally, public transport-oriented development reduced reliance on private vehicles, cutting congestion and emissions while increasing accessibility. Singapore showed that ecosystem coordination can turn tourism into an enhancer of city life rather than a competitor with it. Beyond Tourism: Coordinated Pathways to Inclusive Prosperity 15

Beyond Tourism Coordinated Pathways to Inclusive Prosperity 2025