AusLeisure

A doubling in visitor yield, a new name for Newcastle Airport, world-class walking, cycling and kayak routes, more major brand hotels, better transport and service and innovative, new attractions are some of the goals identified in a Destination Management Plan released to grow Port Stephens’ visitor economy into the next decade.

More international visitors, major events and convention business are also needed to build a stronger, year-round appeal of Port Stephens outside the popular summer period, the report says.

Tabled by Destination Port Stephens for community review and approval by Port Stephens Council, the major 108-page ‘road map’ for tourism as the largest economic driver in the region also calls for Port Stephens as a destination to be identified and incorporated in a unified brand for the area.

Introducing the Plan, Destination Port Stephens Chairman Michael Aylmer explains “the report underlines the importance of partnerships with other regions and with all facets of the local business and residential community to drive tourism development for the benefit of all.

“A stronger and more vibrant visitor economy is our number one goal.”

Destination Port Stephens Marketing Manager Tars Bylhouwer, who developed the Plan, said the document provided a crucial “health check” for the tourism industry.

Bylhouwer added “what we have now is a comprehensive and holistic perspective of the visitor economy in Port Stephens that identifies key directions the industry needs to take in order to grow and prosper.

“The preparation of the report showed there is an amazing level of interest in the community in how we can grow our visitor economy and make Port Stephens a better place to visit and live in and this plan shows how this shared and robust vision can be achieved.”

Click here to view the Destination Management Plan which is on public display on Destination Port Stephens’ corporate website. 

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