While growth in tourism to the Sapphire Coast continues to be well above the national average, the not-for-profit local tourism organisation, Sapphire Coast Tourism (SCT) is at the limits of its capacity to deliver on the benefits of tourism under existing funding arrangements.

SCT chairman Bruce Leaver released a discussion paper on Thursday to start a public conversation about tourism growth ahead of a formal submission to Bega Valley Shire Council in 2015.

"There is an exciting range of potential tourism initiatives that would see the local economy continuing to expand," Mr Leaver said.

"However, we must find a way to get the resources to realise this potential.

"Since 2010 visitor numbers have been estimated to have increased to a record annual level of almost one million visitors.

“The tourism dollar doubles in value as it circulates in the local economy - most businesses benefit and the community gains employment and infrastructure.”

The paper describes the state of our thriving local tourism economy and discusses options to secure more sustainable sources of revenue, including an option involving the local government rating system.

It can be downloaded from www.sapphirecoast.com.au/corporate-information

“Tourism is the mainstay of the Bega Valley economy, worth more than the combined value of all the shire’s traditional resource based industries,” Mr Leaver said.

“It is growing steadily by about 10 per cent per year, more than double the national average, and visitation periods now extend beyond the traditional summer holiday period.

What is particularly pleasing is that more visitors are coming outside the peak summer period, extending into the June quarter.”

Mr Leaver urged Bega Valley residents to respond before February 6, 2015.

After receiving community comment, SCT will make a submission to Bega Valley Shire Council.