Tourism Noosa to manage marketing spend

Tourism Noosa will oversee all of the Shire’s tourist marketing activities from July, under new arrangements to be adopted by Council.

Noosa Mayor Noel Playford said Council’s obligation to fund Sunshine Coast Destination Limited – owned by Sunshine Coast Council – to the tune of $500,000 annually would end in June.

“Council is not reducing funding for tourism marketing, but it will no longer fund a company owned and controlled by another council,” he said.

“We are obliged to ensure Noosa tourism levy funds are spent on clearly defined objectives and Tourism Noosa will ensure value for money and accountability.

“Tourism Noosa has spent many years successfully marketing Noosa both nationally and abroad, it has many runs on the board and it is well positioned to drive our tourism marketing.”

The existing agreement with Sunshine Coast Destination was inherited with de-amalgamation.

“Last year we offered to be part of a regional tourism arrangement with Sunshine Coast Council and Gympie Regional Council with all three contributing and having Board membership,” Cr Playford said.

“That offer was rejected, and Council will not continue to send Noosa ratepayers’ money south of the border to prop up a bureaucracy.”

Cr Playford said Tourism Noosa was best placed to partner with Sunshine Coast Destination Limited on regional marketing opportunities where it saw benefit for Noosa.

4 February 2015