2014-01-13 Item 6.3 Appendices 1-5

Tourism
Since local government amalgamation in 2008, events such as the global financial crisis
and the increasing value of the Australian dollar have had a decisive impact on tourism in
Queensland.

The Sunshine Coast is the third most popular destination in Queensland. While the
Sunshine Coast has had an increase in visitors from New Zealand in the past year, other
international markets have declined. Domestic tourists, specifically Queenslanders,
represent the majority of visitors to the region. The Sunshine Coast draws a small
international market (only 7.8 per cent of total overnight visits), with most visitors coming
from New Zealand and Europe. The trial Auckland to Sunshine Coast flight service has
recently been extended to October 2013, creating further tourist movement.

Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd (SCDL) was created in 2010 to represent the region and
reduce duplication. SCDL is currently the Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO)
representing the area from the Glass House Mountains in the south, to Rainbow Beach in
the north and the hinterland in the west.

Tourism Noosa is the official tourism organisation for the northern region of the Sunshine
Coast. Noosa historically has a strong tourism brand that exploits a range of available
experiences (National Parks, waterways, beaches and hinterland).

Tourism Noosa has produced a document NOOSA – Sustainable Destination Action Plan
2013‐2016 which can be viewed on www.visitnoosa.com.au setting a strategic vision for
the leadership and management of the tourism industry in the Noosa community.

This strategy identifies three key priorities for growth:
 marketing and events
 industry and product development
 sustainability.

In order to deliver on these priorities, recommendations include working with local
government on a number of initiatives.

A possible de‐amalgamation would have a detrimental effect on levels of service to
tourism and levels of service in general which would affect the attraction of the region to
tourists.




                                        Queensland Boundaries Commissioner Report – Proposed Noosa De-amalgamation
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