Blue Mountains Destination Management Plan (DMP)

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area’s Destination Stewardship Plan exemplifies a significant shift from traditional management to a dynamic stewardship model, focusing on sustainable tourism aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s criteria. This approach emphasized balancing socio-economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability. A key experience gained was the formation of the Destination Stewardship Alliance, promoting inclusive decision-making and community engagement. The project underscored the importance of adaptability in strategy, advocating for flexible, responsive plans over static action lists. This stewardship model instilled a deeper responsibility towards the region’s natural and cultural heritage, highlighting the need for preservation and nurturing of local culture and community values. Overall, this initiative provided valuable lessons in collaborative, sustainable, and adaptive management within a significant natural and cultural context.