The draft Destination Management Plan (DMP) is one of the most important documents our region has seen in years. It will help shape Noosa’s future – from infrastructure and visitor management, to the experiences we offer and the way our region is marketed. These are decisions that will directly impact every tourism business in Noosa for years to come.
And yet, so far in the entire consultation process, less than a thousand surveys and submissions have been received. That number should make us all pause and ask the question: has the tourism industry’s voice truly been heard?
As businesses in the tourism industry, we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. The draft DMP has the potential to influence the very things that shape our success – the kind of visitors we welcome, the way we manage our environment, the infrastructure we rely on, and the experiences that keep guests coming back. If we don’t speak up now, we forfeit the chance to shape the plan that will shape us.
I urge every business in Noosa that benefits from tourism, whether you’re a boutique accommodation operator, a tour operator, a café, an event organiser or a supplier to the industry – to read the draft DMP and provide feedback to Council. Completing the survey is important, but I also encourage you to go one step further: submit a short email outlining your main issues or concerns. The survey format doesn’t allow for much detail, and your additional context will help ensure that Council fully understands the challenges and opportunities our industry faces.
Noosa’s tourism industry is already filled with businesses doing great things. We have long-standing leaders like Everglades Eco Safaris, an award-winning, eco-accredited operator setting the standard for environmental stewardship. RACV Noosa Resort holds EarthCheck accreditation and integrates sustainability into every facet of their operations. Smaller operators are also making a big impact – Sunshine Social, for example, embraces a circular economy approach, reducing their carbon footprint and diverting more than 10 tonnes of coffee grinds from landfill in the past year by donating them to local community gardens. Whalesong Noosa contributes daily whale research data to Griffith University and there are many more businesses across our region that go above and beyond to balance visitor experience with environmental and community care.
These are the kinds of stories and practices we need to ensure the DMP supports and amplifies. The plan should not just manage tourism – it should enable the kind of tourism that makes Noosa better, for residents, visitors, and the environment alike.
So, my message is simple: be part of the conversation. Read the draft, share your perspective, and make sure the voice of our industry is loud, clear, and united. The future of tourism in Noosa is being written – let’s make sure we help write it.
