Bass Coast Shire Council entered an 18-month partnership agreement with Destination Phillip Island (DPI) building on the previous contracts.
DPI is the Regional Tourism Board for Phillip Island and San Remo and is one of Council’s key strategic partners in developing the visitor economy in Bass Coast. DPI is the state recognised Regional Tourism Board, an independent peak body for the Phillip Island and San Remo tourism sector. It is directed by a skills-based board focused on the development and growth of the tourism industry in the region.
The partnership agreement between Bass Coast Shire Council and DPI will be effective from 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2025.
The governance of the delivery of the Destination Management Plan is shared collaboratively between DPI, Phillip Island Nature Parks, and Bass Coast Shire Council.
Council has financially supported DPI since its inception in 2004, when it was first recognised by the State Government that Phillip Island should have its own regional campaign committee.
The State Government has committed to financially supporting DPI in its current form through to December 2025. During this time Council will work with DPI, Destination Gippsland and relevant State Government departments to ensure a smooth transition.
To perform the following functions for the Phillip Island region: industry development, product development, regional marketing, strong advocacy and united voice for the region, effective coordination and communication, skills training, leadership and mentoring, networking, identifying investment/infrastructure opportunities and managing tourism sustainability.
For the three-year duration of the current partnership agreement, Council provided DPI with $340,179 of financial support. Council also provided non-financial support through in-kind support for industry development, cooperative marketing, collateral, and events.
Quote attributable to Bass Coast Shire Council, Mayor Cr Clare Le Serve
“Our ongoing relationship with DPI has brought great benefit to our region with impactful promotion and awareness for state, national and international tourism, ensuring we continue to boost visitor numbers in our region.
This has included support for the annual Whale Festival, Island Villages marketing, Ken Hore mentoring and much more”.
“We will continue to work together to become the second Eco Certified Destinations within Victoria which really supports the work we do both within council and community in this area”.
“Council support for DPI is an essential part of delivering the strategic direction for Phillip Island and San Remo visitor economy”.
Quote attributable to Kim Storey, General Manager, Destination Phillip Island
“Our partnership with Bass Coast Shire Council over the last twenty years has provided opportunity to secure further funding support and delivery of significant marketing, advocacy and industry development for our visitor economy, including substantial recovery activity and campaigns. With the new destination management plan in place, together we can work to achieve the aspirations “tourism for the greater good” in the coming years.”
