MAITLAND City Council will develop a destination management plan as a blueprint to drive a tourism boom in the region.
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City economy officer Caroline Booth said council is calling on the community to share their ideas for the future of Maitland.
"A destination management plan is a collaborative road map for council, industry, community, local businesses and other stakeholders to plan a long term future for our visitor economy," she said.
"We are trying to find out of the engagement process what the community and all those other stakeholders evolve in Maitland."
According to Tourism Research Australia’s 2017 Local Government Area Profile for Maitland, visitors spend $96 million.
It also stated 686,000 people visit Maitland annually - 540,000 domestic day visitors, 141,000 domestic overnight visitors and 5000 international visitors.
"We want that $96 million to grow," Ms Booth said.
"Everything we are going to focus on is for the community. We want people to know that Maitland isn't just a great place to live but it's a great place to visit.
"There's so much opportunity out in Maitland as a destination."
The project timeline allows for completion of the development by the end of 2019, with implementation commencing in January 2020.
"This plan will fit in our broad economic plan for Maitland City Council. There will certainly be some great ideas identified. It's a great way to get funding too," Ms Booth said.
"This is our road map. There's such great opportunity in Maitland.
"No idea is a bad one. We want all the ideas."
The community engagement period will close on June 30.