2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                  16 JUNE 2021


Submission Topic   Detail
                   the current Tourism Levy structure and continue to fund Tourism Noosa's operations
                   well into the future.

                   Submission 11:
                   We have operated Hotel Laguna for more than 29 years and I strongly object to
                   proposed changes to the Tourism Levy, as outlined in draft Budget papers, and
                   disagree with the statement that "Tourism promotion has evolved into core Council
                   business". Tourism promotion has sat with Tourism Noosa for 20 years, an
                   organisation that professionally, transparently and strategically promotes the
                   destination, with great success. Our increasing visitor spend (reaching a record $1.2
                   billion in the months before Covid) and the recent Queensland's Top Tourism Town
                   Award (Tourism Noosa's submission) are 2 recent examples. I urge you to maintain
                   the current Tourism Levy structure and continue to fund Tourism Noosa's operations
                   well into the future.

                   Submission 12:
                   I strongly object to proposed changes to the Tourism Levy, as outlined in draft Budget
                   papers, and disagree with the statement that "Tourism promotion has evolved into core
                   Council business". As a ratepayer, I want transparency. I urge you to maintain the
                   current Tourism Levy structure and continue to fund Tourism Noosa's operations well
                   into the future.

                   Submission 13:
                   I strongly object to proposed changes to the Tourism Levy, as outlined in draft Budget
                   papers, and disagree with the statement that "Tourism promotion has evolved into core
                   Council business". Tourism promotion has sat with Tourism Noosa for 20 years, an
                   organisation that professionally, transparently and strategically promotes the
                   destination, with great success. Our increasing visitor spend (reaching a record $1.2
                   billion in the months before Covid) and the recent Queensland's Top Tourism Town
                   Award (Tourism Noosa's submission) are 2 recent examples. I urge you to maintain
                   the current Tourism Levy structure and continue to fund Tourism Noosa's operations
                   well into the future.

                   Submission 14:
                   The proposal to bring the Tourism and Economic Development Levy under General
                   Rates is alarming for the tourism industry. We’ve seen similar moves in Byron Bay, as
                   well as all around New Zealand fail terribly for the local communities. Tourism is a
                   challenging industry to balance the communities needs Vs the environment Vs the
                   needs of operators and locals who rely on the income. It’s absolutely critical to have a
                   dedicated and well-funded organisation managing this. Where will we see the current
                   transparency around how our Tourism Levy funds are used, as we do in Tourism
                   Noosa's Annual Reports? With protection removed, there is no guarantee that Council
                   or future Councils will continue to use the funds for their purpose, or will even fund
                   Tourism Noosa for the purpose of tourism promotion. In this uncertain Covid world,
                   now more than ever before our tourism industry needs security and the work of Tourism
                   Noosa. As a resident of Marcus Beach I will be watching closely, and will base all my
                   future voting decisions around who supports this short-sighted proposal.

                   Submission 15:
                   I strongly object to proposed changes to the Tourism Levy, as outlined in draft Budget
                   papers, and disagree with the statement that "Tourism promotion has evolved into core
                   Council business". Tourism promotion has sat with Tourism Noosa for 20 years, an
                   organisation that professionally, transparently and strategically promotes the
                   destination, with great success. Our increasing visitor spend (reaching a record $1.2
                   billion in the months before Covid) and the recent Queensland's Top Tourism Town
                   Award (Tourism Noosa's submission) are 2 recent examples. I urge you to maintain
                   the current Tourism Levy structure and continue to fund Tourism Noosa's operations
                   well into the future.



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