The first Destination Management Plan for Wagga Wagga which identifies strategies to grow the visitor economy and position Wagga Wagga as a leading regional tourism destination has officially been released.
At its Ordinary Meeting on Monday 24 March, Council endorsed the Wagga Wagga Destination Management Plan 2025-2034, which will guide the development of the visitor economy in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area (LGA) into the future.
The major plan for tourism is a shared vision, having been prepared following extensive community and industry consultation over the past 18 months.
During the public exhibition period for the draft Plan, from 29 November 2024 to 16 February 2025, extensive community engagement was undertaken, including static kiosks, online surveys, pop-up sessions and workshops.
One-hundred and eighty-four (184) submissions were received over that period.
"We want to thank the community and local business for getting involved and helping to shape this important plan," Council's Destination & Events Coordinator Kimberly Parker said.
"Council received very positive support toward the initiatives outlined in the draft Plan.
"It was important to get feedback from as wide a range of residents and stakeholders as possible as this plan is a roadmap for Wagga Wagga to develop and grow our tourism potential over the next 10 years.
"We've listened to what the community and local business has had to say about the initiatives and recommendations outlined in the draft Plan and this feedback contributed to finalising the plan that was presented to councillors for their endorsement."
Key themes of the feedback received during the public exhibition period included:
- Continue to develop our events, festivals, agritourism and food and wine scene.
- Continued investment in and activation of our cycling and walking trails.
- Continued investment in infrastructure upgrades, activations, and events at Riverside: Wagga Beach and Lake Albert.
- Support for a First Nations destination theme.
- Investment in upgrading public amenities at key visitor locations.
- Further investment in arts and culture.
This plan outlines how we will continue to develop a strong and successful visitor economy in Wagga Wagga over the next 10 years," Ms Parker said.
"Continuing to build the skills and opportunities for growth in the tourism industry, investing in infrastructure that supports the visitor economy, and supporting key events that drive visitation will be crucial to the success of achieving the plan's vision - that Wagga Wagga is a leading regional destination for visitors."
