2020-01-13 GC Agenda - Item 10 - Attachment 2 - The Value of Tourism to the Noosa Community October 2019 FINAL REPORT

      •     “..business growth in industry sectors that have low environmental impact and high
            economic value
      •     leveraging and enhancing Noosa’s brand
      •     recognising and supporting sustainable tourism as an ongoing key economic driver
      •     recognising education as a key feature of knowledge economies
      •     focusing on Council’s regulatory role (for example the planning scheme) that enables
            business development in industry sectors of competitive advantage and opportunity
      •     encouraging a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation within the Noosa
            community
      •     advocating on behalf of the community
      •     supporting specific strategies focused on developing priority industry sectors
                o health and wellness
                o digital economy
                o rural enterprise
                o environmental industries
                o education and training
                o tourism
                o professional services
                o creative industries.”

In terms of tourism, the intentions for Noosa are for the area to strengthen its reputation as:

      •     A world class tourism destination
      •     Continuing to have and build on a strong brand awareness
      •     Being a very proactive industry that responds to change
      •     Maintaining its existing successful management and funding structure.

The Economic Plan acknowledges the important work of Tourism Noosa, and supports
Tourism Noosa’s Strategy and Action Plan in the main mechanism to move tourism forward.

Noosa Social Strategy

The Noosa Social Strategy provides a framework to “continue to improve community
wellbeing and cohesiveness while addressing the social opportunities and challenges facing
the Shire over the coming years”. The strategy acknowledges current strengths as well as
noting the key issues and challenges for action. Tourism is acknowledged as a key industry
that brings great advantages to Noosa as well as challenges. Key strengths and challenges
within Noosa are noted below. As a thriving industry earmarked for the future, tourism will
need to be cognisant of strengthening the comparative advantages while also managing,
mitigating or at least not contributing to exacerbating the current and likely future
challenges.

              Social Strengths of Noosa                                  Social Challenges in Noosa

  •       “A strong community spirit fostering a sense of        •   “Providing quality services for our senior
          belonging among residents                                  population
  •       An engaged population that plays an active             •   Young people leaving the Shire
          role in decision making                                •   Mental health and social isolation
  •       A reputation for being a caring community that         •   Homelessness
          helps one another
                                                                 •   The availability of affordable housing

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