A detailed plan to restore the half-billion-dollar tourism sector in the Northern Beaches was endorsed by Council to go on public exhibition.

The draft Destination Northern Beaches is a five-year strategic plan developed with the local industry and key stakeholders to set the direction for future growth in our visitor economy, while protecting our environment and our community’s social values.

The comprehensive strategy is to rebuild the Northern Beaches’ tourism economy and identifies its historic and natural tourism advantages, looking at ways to leverage them into renewed visitation.

In addition, a two-year visitor economy recovery plan was developed to provide a short-term response to prepare for a rebound in tourism.

Mayor Michael Regan said the Destination Northern Beaches: Creating a sustainable visitor economy plan would breathe life back into an industry ravaged by the COVID crisis.

“The worldwide tourism and hospitality industries have been devastated by the pandemic, and we are looking for residents’ feedback on a blueprint that will return the Northern Beaches to visitors’ ‘must-see’ lists.

“While COVID has been bad news for the sector, the good news is research has shown there is strong pent-up demand for people planning to travel within Australia in the next six months,” Cr Regan said.

“Post-COVID, we want to be ready to ride that wave of local demand by making the Northern Beaches tourism product as attractive, unique and as visible as possible.

“We’ll be aiming to reinforce Manly as the jewel in the crown and gateway for the Northern Beaches’ world-class beach and bushland visitor experiences.”

In 2018/19, the tourism and hospitality sector accounted for 12 per cent of all jobs on the Northern Beaches (twice the NSW average). Since March, around 3,000 jobs in this sector have been impacted.

“The health crisis has hit jobs and spending, turning people’s lives upside down, and has had a major impact on the local economy. Our plan will help turn that around.”

Highlights of the two-year visitor economy recovery plan are:

• Refocussing on intrastate visitors, day-trippers and overnight stays from Greater Sydney and adjoining regional areas;
• Strengthening supply, creating COVID-safe visitor experiences with more diverse and eco-friendly offerings; and
• Building industry capacity in excellent customer service and contemporary marketing practices.

“The tourism plan aims to build on our natural and manmade attractions as a visitor destination, create jobs and help rebuild a vital part of our economy,” Cr Regan said.

The Destination Northern Beaches: Creating a sustainable visitor economy plan will shortly be on public exhibition and available to access on Council’s Have Your Say webpage until 7 February, 2021.