A 10-year plan to help guide Geelong and The Bellarine’s visitor economy through its pandemic recovery and beyond has been released for community feedback.
Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine’s (TGGB) draft Sustainable Destination Master Plan (SDMP) is a tourism industry-led project, that will serve as a roadmap to deliver sustainable, balanced growth for the tourism sector.
Utilising industry insights, research and an analysis of current and forecast visitor and workforce statistics, the plan identifies opportunities for our region through investment in infrastructure, established and emerging markets and workforce needs to support our region’s growth.
Early engagement with members of our local tourism sector, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and key stakeholders, helped bring to light the key challenges and opportunities facing the region across the sector. These responses, alongside detailed research, have formed the basis of the draft Master Plan.
“Whether it’s creating jobs, memories or a thriving local economy – tourism plays a very important role in shaping the region we know and love,” Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine Executive Director, Brett Ince, said.
“This strategic document comes at the right time for our industry to ensure that our visitor economy can not only recover but thrive well into 2032.”
Findings outlined in the report look at the region as a whole and the six specific sub-regions TGGB represents of: Golden Plains South; Avalon and the You Yangs; Geelong Urban; Bellarine South; Bellarine North; and Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale.
Earlier this year, Urbis were engaged as the consultants to undertake this project.
Community members can provide feedback via an online survey or by attending one of the in-person sessions listed below (registration required):
• 10 – 11am Monday 12 September – Bannockburn Shire Offices
• 4 – 5pm Monday 12 September – Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine Office
• 9 – 10am Tuesday 13 September – Queenscliff Town Hall
• 11.30am – 12.30pm Tuesday 13 September – Ocean Grove SLSC
• 2.30 – 3.30pm Tuesday 13 September – Portarlington Golf Club
• 5.30 – 6.30pm Tuesday 13 September – Lara Community Centre
A 46-page summary of the overall draft SDMP has been produced for the purpose of this engagement.
“I encourage locals, business and tourism operators and their staff to read through the draft plan and provide their feedback to help us create a sustainable visitor economy that is prosperous and positive for all connected with it,” Mr Ince said.
This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions funding.
To complete the online survey or register for an in-person session visit yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/SDMP. Feedback is open until 5:00pm Tuesday 27 September 2022.
