2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                   16 JUNE 2021


Submission Topic   Detail
                   Please reconsider this change which seems to be an approach that should be subject
                   to deeper consideration and evaluation rather than a change creeping in under a draft
                   Budget cycle. There is an absolute track record of the succcess of the Special Rate
                   approach since 2001 so any changes should be carefully evaluated.

                   Submission 59
                   As the former head of Marketing and Deputy CEO of Tourism Noosa, with over 25
                   years experience working in tourism strategy and marketing across various states in
                   Australia and first-hand insight into successful working models for tourism at all levels,
                   I am compelled to express concerns regarding Noosa Council’s proposed changes to
                   the Tourism and Economic Development Levy and the potential loss to the local
                   tourism industry of what is regarded as a leading model for tourism prosperity in
                   regional areas.

                   During the time of my tenure and beyond, local and regional tourism organisations from
                   across Australia and beyond frequently sought the advice of Tourism Noosa as to how
                   best to structure their operations, from marketing and governance to membership
                   engagement and sustainability approaches. Core to this reputation and achievement
                   that countless tourism regions envy is the levy model and productive collaboration with
                   a supportive Council.

                   As a levy driven from the ground up by local Noosa businesses, the funding enables a
                   well-planned and proactive suite of work, spanning brand and tactical marketing,
                   research program, tourism event funding, sustainability initiatives, consumer
                   communications, international marketing, local visitor information services and much
                   more to be delivered on behalf of all local business operators.

                   Protection of this levy and critical funding for one of Noosa’s most significant economic
                   generators must be strongly considered for the benefit of not only the countless local
                   businesses that rely on tourism, but to also protect the billion dollar plus economic
                   impact that Tourism Noosa has nurtured over many years of strategic marketing and
                   management.

                   The statement that "Tourism promotion has evolved into core Council business” is
                   alarming - tourism promotion has sat with Tourism Noosa for 20 years, an organisation
                   that has professionally, transparently and strategically promoted the destination with
                   great success. Further, in my experience working and liaising with a wide range of local
                   and regional tourism organisations, tourism that is managed independently from
                   Council, but with the strong partnership of Council, is a model best designed for
                   ongoing success and private sector business industry engagement.

                   I urge Noosa Council to maintain the current Tourism Levy structure and continue to
                   fund Tourism Noosa's operations well into the future.

                   Submission 60
                   We strongly object to proposed changes to the Tourism Levy, as outlined in the draft
                   Budget papers. We also strongly 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 Noosa 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.

                   We urge you to maintain the current Tourism Levy structure and continue to fund
                   Tourism Noosa’s operations for at the next 12 months. Any future changes should be
                   made based on proper evidence based reporting and consultation to fully review
                   Council’s motives to remove the levy and the impact on Noosa’s tourism industry
                   including its tourism promotion.

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