What services does Tilma Group offer to destination managers?

Tilma Group provides a comprehensive suite of services for destination managers, including Destination Management Planning (DMP), visitor servicing reviews, tourism product audits, and strategic activation. They also offer specialized support in experience design, such as agritourism and nature-based tourism development, and capability building through mentoring.

Does Tilma Group specialize in rural and regional tourism development?

Yes, Tilma Group is a specialist consultancy dedicated to rural, regional, and remote Australia. Their team focuses on creating sustainable, community-led visitor economies that reflect the authentic character of regional communities.

How does Tilma Group assist with Destination Management Plans (DMPs)?

Tilma Group develops practical, implementable Destination Management Plans and tourism strategies backed by data and community consultation. Their approach ensures that strategies are not just visionary but also implementable, focusing on social, economic, and environmental benefit.

Does Tilma Group provide mentoring for tourism teams and Councils?

Yes, Tilma Group offers tailored mentoring and coaching for destination managers and tourism teams (as well as for tourism businesses and farmers interested in agritourism). Their mentoring is designed to build confidence, provide strategic clarity, and develop leadership skills within local government and regional tourism organizations.

What is Tilma Group’s approach to sustainable tourism?

Sustainability is at the core of Tilma Group’s mission. They advocate for responsible tourism that protects natural assets and respects local culture. As part of their commitment, they donate 1% of their profits to support rural communities' resilience to climate breakdown.

How destination manager can nudge operators to improve sustainability

Jun 8

Written By Linda Tillman

Everyone’s takeaway from last week’s Global Sustainable Tourism Summit seemed to be:

“Make sustainability the default,
and make unsustainable choices more of an effort.”

It’s beauty is that it can be considered and applied in so many circumstances.

Ideas to help sustainability be the default for tourism businesses

We have to start making sustainability the path of least resistance. If being sustainable requires extra brainpower or physical effort, most business owners will skip it – not because they don't care, but because they are too busy.

I've written some tips for how a destination manager can make sustainability the default option for tourism operators, and make unsustainability the higher effort option for them.

1. Make learning easy

Help operators learn what to do, such as by adding a short sustainability tip to every newsletter and at every networking event.
Provide easy-to-understand dot points on what a business can do, such as the top most impactful ways to save money by reducing energy use, or how to provide a personalised, meaningful Acknowledgement of Country, or how to make a sustainable choice the default and easiest option for guests.
Run informal peer-to-peer master classes or site visits. For example, take a group of operators to a local caravan park or lodge that has successfully implemented circular economy waste loops or solar micro-grids. Let the host operator explain how it streamlined their staffing hours and boosted their guest reviews.

2. Make procurement easy

Curate a supplier directory - a pre-verified list of suppliers of eco-friendly products, such as guest amenities and biodegradable cleaning products, such as Plastic Free Noosa’s eco-friendly suppliers
Facilitate group discounts or bulk buy schemes for business owners in your region.

3. Feature certified operators in marketing

Set up the destination website and visitor guide to showcase businesses with sustainable certification or eco-feature: premium placement by default.
Have Eco-Friendly, Locally Sourced, and Nature-based filters as some of the first search options for visitors.

4. Prioritise sustainability in grants

When applying for competitive grants (and awards), provide extra points to businesses that are sustainably certified.
To be eligible for funding for infrastructure, the operator must show how sustainability is built in to their development.

5. Prioritise supply to local government

To register as a preferred supplier or vendor for the Council (such as to host business meetings or guests of the Council, or for familiarisation trips), prioritise those with sustainability certification (and hence third party verified risk management).

In these ways, your pitch to businesses is clear: