Tourism changes in effect from July 1

Tourism Noosa will manage all of the Shire’s tourism marketing activities from 1 July, under new arrangements adopted by Council last night.

The existing agreement inherited with de-amalgamation committed Council to provide $500,000 to the Sunshine Coast Council-owned Sunshine Coast Destination Limited annually from Noosa’s tourism levy.

That agreement expires on June 30.

Cr Frank Wilkie said the new arrangements included improved accountability provisions to ensure Noosa businesses’ tourism levy funds were spent on clearly defined marketing activities.

“With its many years in the business and numerous industry awards to its credit, Tourism Noosa is well placed to manage our tourism marketing,” Cr Wilkie said.

“As the local tourism organisation (LTO) Tourism Noosa will still be free to contribute to regional marketing efforts where it sees a clear benefit to the shire.

“In this case, Tourism Noosa will continue to work co-operatively with Sunshine Coast Destination Limited, in the same way our neighbouring LTO, Destination Gympie Region, does.”

Cr Wilkie said the new arrangement will depend more upon mutually agreed, clearly defined regional marketing programs than the automatic, annual transfer of half a million dollars.

8 May 2015