Eurobodalla Nature Based Tourism Plan

Eurobodalla Shire Council

Inspiration

Nature-based tourism is a distinct form of travel. Nature-based tourists seek engagement with the remaining natural landscapes of the planet that is authentic, immersive, challenging and educational.  The Eurobodella Shire Council recognised the undeveloped opportunities available in their shire to build on the points of difference with other destinations and develop new nature-based tourism products that would garner investment and grow their visitor market. 

Council chose the Inspiring Place team (including Claire Ellis Consulting and Indigeco) because of our understanding of nature-based tourism gained through our professional experience with market analysis, nature-based tourism product ideation and our commitment to engagement with those in the industry. Importantly, Council knew of us as being able to envision change and our successes elsewhere that have led to greater regional visitor dispersal and the benefits that come from a vibrant visitor economy.

Outcomes

Our team developed a layered approach to increasing the attraction of the region, inspiring more and longer visitation and greater spending by visitors while encouraging government and private investment to realise our proposals.

The Study identified the engaging project at the heart of any successful strategy - projects that were market ready, those for the mid-term that activated places with outstanding values that were yet to reach their potential and longer-term sustainability projects that would create the infrastructure needed to support further industry development.  In line with our values, we recommended projects that would harness the growing international demand for Aboriginal cultural tourism products for the benefits they would bring to the six Local Aboriginal Land Councils.

Recognition

The strength of the project is seen in its promotion by Council officers to the community as enabling the Shire to reposition itself  “… as an attractive location for both public and private investment, and drive growth and ongoing improvement in nature-based tourism and hence contribute to the achievement of a long-term outcome.”

The success of the plan is summed up in the central role that nature-based tourism plays in Council’s recently launched ad campaign “All Kinds of Natural”.

Photography: Eurobodalla Shire Council