We are pleased to share with you Destination Northern Beaches, our five-year strategic plan that sets the direction for future growth in our visitor economy, while protecting our environment and our community’s social values.

A report was presented at the Council meeting on Tuesday 28 September 2021 seeking Council adoption of the Destination Management Plan, noting the outcomes of community engagement. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback along the way.

Implementation of the Destination Management Plan will be guided by the Action Plan (Recover-Rebuild-Drive New Business) which is integral to the overall plan.

Community engagement for the draft Destination Management Plan reached over 6,500 people, with a total of 211 submissions received between 3 December 2020 and 16 February 2021.

Overall, the feedback reflected the community’s recognition of the importance and value of the visitor economy for our local employment and broader economy. There was a mix of attitudes towards tourism with many respondents contributing solutions and ideas on how to manage visitation numbers to the region.

There was also broad support for developing a destination identity and the need for increased marketing, improved digital and visitor services to promote the region.

Respondents also highlighted the impact and need for improving and building new infrastructure around mountain biking, promoting the experiences outside of Manly and Palm Beach and looking at other product development that would support year-round visitation and dispersal across the region.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the draft Destination Management Plan. Following the engagement period, amendments were made to the draft plan.