A. Physical Destination Planning- A Supply-led Approach

• In 1970s, a range of recreation plans, foreshore studies and a local environmental plan for Lake Macquarie, still influenced by the prescriptive methods and approaches of physical land use master planning was prepared. These plans and policy documents adopted standards for the provision of open space and recreation facilities and identified sites for recreation and tourism development.

• In 1977, the Lake Macquarie City council formed a Lake Macquarie tourist facilities development panel, the task of which was to identify and develop the tourism capacity of the local area.

• Identify and investigate sites of potential tourism development and to advise on how tourism development might be achieved.

B. Building Markets- A Demand-led Approach

• By 1980s, tourism had become an important economic activity in many regional areas of Australia. Strong growth in international visitation, particularly from Asian and North American markets, drove a push to build tourism resorts and to increase yield by building integrated products and experiences.

• These resort developments were usually characterized by high financial risk and long lead times before financial returns could be made and were targeted at international markets sensitive to international economic conditions.

• Economic conditions weakened (most notably, interest rates rose and investor confidence weakened) market demand fluctuated and the developer went into receivership before the proposal received final approvals.

C. Building and Empowering Industry- An Industry-led Approach

• Early 1990s, the council renewed its commitment to addressing tourism in a more strategic manner. It hired a tourism officer and a tourism planning strategy was prepared by a consultant, the Hunter Valley Research Foundation.

• However, the departure of the tourism officer a short time later meant that responsibility for and commitment to the document was lost. The new tourism officer who was appointed sought to consult with industry as his first priority. He set about building networks of industry contacts and empowering industry to build a competitive and synergetic product. The tourism strategy was shelved, becoming little more than a background information document rather than the living strategy and vision it was intended to be.

• During 1990s, industry disharmony was evident, the tourism industry itself was fragmented and networks of competing interests began to emerge or consolidate based on geographic localities around the Lake council resources were limited experience among industry stakeholders varied and debates about which issues should be prioritized became heated.

D. Policy dialogues, communication and participation

• In 1996 the council under tock a major strategic planning exercise called lifestyle 2020. The project was an ambitious attempt to develop a vision for the future of Lake Macquarie and to integrate policy directions among all sectors and responsibilities of the council. This reflected the emergence of new approaches to planning which emphasized collaboration, communication and partnerships between government community and business.

• Tourism, leisure and lifestyle are inextricably linked and the community had to be consulted about the future direction and extent of tourism development in the city. The development of council policy direction on tourism-related issues requires positive consultation with the peak body and with the wider community.

Tourism Planning and Policy Development: Lake Macquarie

INTRODUCTION

A policy represents the course of action that public authorities choose use in addressing a specific problem while a tourism policy is a framework of guidelines that helps the tourism industry to exploit opportunities in order to promote the growth the industry. This discussion is based on the impact of government, international relations and responsibilities of Lake Macquarie in the development and implementation of tourism policies.

Impact of the government on Lake Macquarie tourism policies
Intra-government organization such as the Australian Tourist Commission and Tourism Council of Australia affect the policy options Lake Macquarie. This is so because the policies set by these organizations on tourism must be accommodated by the Lake Macquarie. The organizations that are associated with tourism industry are usually funded by the government and the policies governing their activities must meet the requirements of the government, (Dredge & Jenkins, 2007). Such commissions created by the government have the mandate to mange the tourist activities in the country. Therefore they have a direct impact on the policy options Lake Macquarie tourist destination considers to implement.

Local government involvement in leisure and tourism provision in Lake Macquarie impacts on the type of tourism policies the tourist destination implements. The interests of the local government in the tourism activities in the lake make it contribute to the tourism policies that govern the lake. The local authorities represent the central government in their regions hence they govern the tourist destinations in their locality.

The government in regulation of the private sector makes it have great influence on the policies adopted by Lake Macquarie because the investors of tourism industry majorly comprise of the private sector. The government coordinates and regulates the private sector with an intention of avoiding duplication of resources and enabling the sector work together towards common policy objectives, (Livesley, 2007). The challenge the government faces in coordinating the private sector is the large number of public organizations it needs to bring together.

The government is responsible for making national tourism development plans, (Bartoluci, 2010). The policies of Lake Macquarie must therefore be designed in accordance to the government’s national tourism plans. In tourism planning and policy development by Lake Macquarie, the overall plan of the government needs to be considered to avoid conflict with the government’s national development policy. The government identifies which sectors of the industry needs to be developed and the appropriate rate of growth of such industries. The government thus regulates the policies of tourism industry especially when it provides capital required for expansion of the industry.

The government has legislation and regulation powers that directly affect tourism, (Dredge, 2001). Legislation on immigration and licenses directly affects the tourism industry and all its policies must be drafted to accommodate the government legislation. Since Lake Macquarie tourism is largely composed of foreign tourists, the policies of the lake must adopt the immigration requirements of the government by ensuring that tourists comply with the immigration rules. The licensing of the lake’s business subsystems such as hotels and travel must also follow policies that adhere to the government legislation.

Impact of international relations and responsibilities on Lake Macquarie tourism policies
The international relations of a country affect the security and safety of its citizens in another country. The policies of the government on matters of international safety and security especially in cases of political unrest and terrorism impact directly on the formulation of tourism policies by Lake Macquarie. This is because the way the country relates to other countries will affect marketing and promotion policies of Lake Macquarie in such countries.

The economic status of a state in relation to the international economy affects the financial policies of its tourism industry. Issues such as the fluctuations in the value of the currency affect the tourism business worldwide (Malhotra, 2009). The international financial policies of the government affect the tourism policies of Lake Macquarie; in addition, the government provides policies on taxation and may sponsor research on the tourism industry with recommendations on the measures to be taken to promote the industry.

Foreign policies on international relations directly affect the tourism industry (Dredge & Jenkins, 2007). Bad relations with specific nations may cause the tourism industry not to accommodate tourists from those destinations. The government is responsible for development and implementation of foreign policy hence the promotional activities of Lake Macquarie must reflect the policies of the government on foreign relations.

Technological trend in the international market affects the tourism policy development by Lake Macquarie. This includes the use of technology to promote tourist activities at the lake, using technology to control tourist infrastructure and booking travel and accommodation arrangements by tourists by use of modern technology.

Political and economic trends that have created organizations such as the World Tourism Organization and the World Travel and Tourism Council makes Lake Macquarie be responsible to such collaborations. The policies of Lake Macquarie on tourism must accommodate its responsibilities to international organizations.

Responsibilities of Lake Macquarie to the tourist industry in Australia such as Australian Tourism Industry Association and the Ecotourism Association of Australia determine its tourism planning and policy development. This is because the policies of Lake Macquarie as a tourist destination must consider its responsibilities to such associations. Responsibilities of Lake Macquarie to tourist coordination agencies such as local government and industry associations also impacts on the formulation and implementation of policies by the lake.

CONCLUSION
Lake Macquarie tourism industry is affected by the central and local government, international relations and its responsibilities to both the local and international associations. Therefore in development and implementation of its policies, the lake is influence by the external forces from economic, social and technological worlds that surround tourism.