The Murraylands Regional Development Board is leading a partnership to develop the Murraylands Integrated Regional Strategic Tourism Plan (MIRSTP).  Development of this plan will be guided by local experts and will support sustainable tourism growth within the region.

A draft of the plan will be available in late November 2008 and be presented in a series of workshops throughout the region. A draft will also be available from this website and feedback can be provided via an online survey from 24th November.

The primary objective of this project is to:

‘Provide the Murraylands with an innovative and strategic policy and planning framework that will help attract and grow investment and build capacity in sustainable tourism within the Region.’

The partnership is very aware that many sectors within the local tourism industry are hurting at the moment due to the double whammy of drought and high fuel prices.  Therefore it is intended that the plan is realistic and achievable, while also identifying opportunities for growth.

The plan will highlight opportunities to attract more visitors to the region and to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more within the region.

The MIRSTP will provide the basis for aligning planning policy with the agreed community vision.  It will include recommendations for implementation by identifying key tourism partners and how change can be achieved.

Being a regional strategic tourism plan, development of the MIRSTP involves more than a conventional approach to strategic planning.  It will include economic and market analyses, growth scenarios and targets, return on investment, brand strategy; development opportunities, planning policy analysis, infrastructure needs and environmental management.  These provide a framework for developing an integrated vision and direction for tourism.

The other partners contributing to the development of the plan include the Rural City of Murray Bridge, Mid Murray Council, The Coorong District Council, District Council of Karoonda East Murray, Southern Mallee District Council, Murraylands Tourism Marketing, Houseboat Hirers Association, Murraylands Indigenous Consortium, Murraylands Regional Tourist Association; and the South Australian Tourism Commission.

This partnership is particularly unique in that it includes Indigenous funding.  The cocktail of funding will provide the partnership with opportunities to fully explore the Murraylands assets in a more expansive manner.

Dynamic Project Delivery have been contracted to work with the MRDB to develop the MIRSTP.  Therefore for specific information about the project or to gain further information about how you can have input please contact Judy Pfeiffer at Dynamic Project Delivery, phone 08 8572 5100 or judyp(at)dynamicprojectdelivery.com.au

For a general overview of the project in the context of regional development contact Brenton Lewis at the Murraylands Regional Development Board, phone 08 8535 7170.