3.3 Tourism Context Phillip Island penguin parade Phillip Island Nature Parks Domestic and international tourism is a key economic driver for Victoria and extremely important for local and regional communities and economies along the Victorian coast. Going to the beach is the most popular nature-based activity for all domestic and international visitors, representing about half of all visits International visitor survey and National visitor survey, 2005). Victoria's nature-based tourism strategy 2008-2012 highlights growing consumer demand for ecologically sustainable tourism and unique experiences in the natural environment. A key challenge is the balance between providing built facilities to satisfy market demand and the footprint of built infrastructure on the coast. Nature-based tourism offers the opportunity to experience coastal and marine environments in unique ways, and can increase visitors' appreciation of these environments. Built facilities to support this industry generally require a natural setting, which needs to be balanced with policy to protect non-urban areas between settlements and their significant values. Opportunities for the development of quality tourism products situated within the coastal hinterland areas may provide a range of benefits for local communities and economies while mitigating impacts on coastal resources. Clear planning principles are required to achieve coastal policy objectives and increase regional tourism investment in the right locations within non-urban areas. Coastal spaces (2006) suggests that such principles may include: The need to provide high quality visitor/tourist accommodation which responds to a regional tourism product strength, outlines the desired visitor experience to be achieved and demonstrates consistency with regional tourism strategies. The design of a development should provide an outcome that responds to the above and seeks to minimise overall impact through being subordinate to the visual and environmental qualities of a particular locality and minimising the overall footprint of a development. Accommodation should be specifically designed to prevent conversion to permanent residential occupation to protect the future overall availability of accommodation stock. The need to provide for an appropriate scale and intensity of use and development relative to a site to manage the provision of additional services such as water and sewerage. Policy 1. Support development of sustainable nature-based tourism that benefits the local community and state and regional economies and heightens visitors' experience of the coast. 2. Require tourism operators to address the environmental impacts of business operations and ensure the health and safety of tourists. 3. Support the development of tourism accommodation opportunities that are non-residential in nature and are consistent with the long term strategic planning objectives outlined within a settlement plan. 4. Improve and enhance tourists' and visitors' experience and understanding of the coast, while protecting sensitive and significant areas. Actions a Explore opportunities for recreation and tourism ventures which are sensitive to coastal settings and meet regional needs (DSE, TV, PV). b Develop guidelines for planning and evaluating appropriate nature-based tourism developments outside existing settlements (DPCD, DSE, TV, PV). c Progress the concept of the Great Victorian Coastal Walk (VCC, DSE, PV, CoM, TV).

10 December 2008