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Abstract
Regeneration proposals typically seek to use a range of physical, economic and social initiatives to tackle inequality and improve areas. Often they attempt to change the image of places, making them more attractive to tourists, investors, and residents. The role of tourism in these regeneration processes is complex and contested. Tourism elements are often not well understood by decision-makers and sometimes create tensions with wider social regeneration aspirations. Using concepts from complexity theory, this paper interrogates the relationship between tourism and wider regeneration aspirations connected with the 2012 Olympic Games. It uses complexity theory to explore the context within which policies are developed, and the relationships between different policy initiatives. Both are highly complex, constantly evolving and sometimes ambiguous. It argues complexity concepts might be used to help to develop deeper understanding of the relationships between tourism and regeneration.
Acknowledgements
This paper draws from material collected during two research projects, one funded by the IOC and one by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. I would like to thank Charlie Inskip who provided research assistance on the former, and Andrew Smith who conducted several interviews in connection with the latter. I would also like to acknowledge the insightful comments by the reviewers to the first version of this manuscript.