Writing a Business Plan

What’s a business plan, do I need one, and where can I get help to write one?

A business plan is an essential tool for starting a tourism business. A completed business plan is a summary and evaluation of your business idea. It shows the probability of success of the business and your ability to make it work. It provides a structure to help develop strategies and assess the fundamentals of managing a tourism business.

The following organisations, web resources and other sources will help business owners understand the planning process and create their own business plan.

Tasmanian Department of Economic Development

The Department provides valuable resources and information to assist in starting and developing a small business.

Business Point

Business Point is the Department of Economic Development’s free confidential referral and information service for Tasmanian businesses requiring assistance. Call to find out all you need to know about planning, starting and growing your business.

Phone 1800 440 026

Business Point ‘How To’ Guides

The Department of Economic Development provides a range of guides for small business operators and those thinking of starting their own business. Topics include business management, planning, operations, marketing and finance. You can access electronic copies by visiting the department’s website or obtain hard copies by contacting Business Point.

The Department's business planning guide outlines what a business plan is and the steps required to write one.

Enterprise Centres

Enterprise Centres provide free and confidential information, guidance and advice to small businesses. An Enterprise Centre can help with business planning and provide practical self-help publications, business mentoring programs, and referrals to specialist programs and develop management skills.

Phone 1800 440 026
www.development.tas.gov.au

Commonwealth Government Resources

Business Entry Point

The Commonwealth Government’s Business Entry Point website provides essential information on planning, starting and running a business.

Business Entry Point ‘How To’ Guides

The Commonwealth Government also publishes ‘how to’ guides, providing essential information and advice.

Specific topics of interest include:

• How do I write a business plan?
• How do I write a marketing plan?
• What planning tools can help me?

Sustainable Practices

You should consider the relationship between your tourism development and its host destination in order to maximise the benefits for both and minimise any negative effects. The benefits and negative effects could be environmental, social and/or economic.

Local groups have local knowledge that can help predict impacts and develop management plans. In addition, many international organisations provide guidelines for sustainable development and run accreditation schemes aimed at promoting, educating and developing sustainable tourism operations. Below are a range of organisations who may assist in sustainable practices.

Ecotourism Australia

Ecotourism Australia is the peak national body for the ecotourism industry. Its diverse membership includes ecotourism accommodation, tour and attraction operators; tourism planners; protected area managers; academics and students; tourism, environmental, interpretation and training consultants, local and regional tourism associations and travellers.

Green Globe

Green Globe is a worldwide benchmarking and certification program for the travel and tourism industry.

Nature of Good Business

This is a subset of Green Globe that encourages tourism operators and organisations to improve their environmental, social and business performance. Its guidelines and supporting information were developed to help businesses write environmental plans.

World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) provides sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, from mass to niche tourism products.

Green Stars – AAA Tourism

AAA Tourism promotes and manages star-rated accommodation properties in Australia. Green Stars are additional to the current star rating and are given to businesses that achieve practical environmental standards. Green Stars make it possible for customers and the industry to identify tourism businesses committed to reducing the environmental impacts of their operation.

Star Ratings – AAA Tourism

Star ratings are awarded by AAA Tourism and are an independent assessment of the standard of physical facilities offered by a property.

International Business Leaders Forum Tourism Partnership

The International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) is a not-for-profit organisation set up in response to the emerging challenges of economic growth and change in the global economy. Its mission is to promote responsible business leadership and partnerships for social, economic and environmentally sustainable international developments, particularly in new and emerging market economies.

The IBLF Tourism Partnership is an organisation of leading companies from the travel and tourism industry. Its aim is to provide the hotel, travel and tourism industry with the knowledge and ability to develop practical solutions for more responsible business.