Despite the challenges presented in recent years by COVID-19 lockdowns, the Central Coast achieved a four per cent growth in tourism in the year ended June 2022 compared to a decline in regional NSW of 14 per cent.
A report to the Central Coast Council meeting on March 28 gave an update on progress in the 12 months to June 2022 under the Central Coast Destination Management Plan 2022-2025 (DMP).
It revealed a contribution of more than $1B in visitor expenditure to the region’s economy and an increase of 36 per cent on average regional expenditure per visitor over the previous year.
In addition to the $800,000 supplied by Council towards management outcomes delivered through annual Operational Plan budgets, the internal tourism team was also successful in securing an additional $300,000 in grant funding to invest in programs.
The aim of the DMP is to guide tourism development and destination management for four years with key actions for stakeholder groups including the Central Coast community and tourism operators.
Council says the region’s tourism profile continues to grow.
Over the 2021/22 period the Central Coast tourism industry, in collaboration with Council’s Tourism Team, was recognised as winners in eight industry awards in Australia and on the global stage.
Acting Director Community and Recreation Services, Beth Burgess, said tourism is an important pillar of the Central Coast economy.
“Feedback from industry on the DMP’s year in review was positive and in support of continuing Council’s current tourism management model,” Burgess said.
“The industry conveyed that the work and activities delivered by Council’s Tourism Team since 2020 have been significantly positive and agreed ongoing collaboration and consultation between industry and government on the direction of tourism and tourism planning was important to them.”
Council Administrator Rik Hart said the tourism industry on the Coast had navigated its way through a challenging era, to achieve higher yielding visitors – an envious achievement for any destination strategy.
“Council will continue to receive further reports on the progress of the Destination Management Plan, which outlines Council’s shared vision for the Central Coast as having a thriving, connected and supported tourism industry,” he said.
“Destination Central Coast provides compelling visitor experiences and positions the region as a premier sustainable tourism and lifestyle destination – and maps future actions to get there.”
In June 2022, the Central Coast achieved ECO Destination Certification with Ecotourism Australia, recognising its commitment to sustainable practices and nature-based tourism experiences.
The report says achieving ECO Destination Certification recognises the region as a world-class location for sustainable and nature-based tourism, which will provide a substantial and ongoing boost to the local economy.
“This was a key action from the DMP and places the Central Coast region on an international level as an ecotourism destination of choice,” the report says.
“Statistically, ecotourists stay longer, are more sustainably conscious travellers and are more interested in a region’s local community, nature and culture.”
The region has seven ECO certified operators and nine ECO certification applicants.
Terry Collins