Furneaux Futures: Building Tourism with Purpose
By Jo Youl
When I was about six, I remember standing on the beach at the end of our farm. The wind cut across the hills as my parents and grandparents laughed together on the sand. I didn’t know it at the time, but something in that moment stuck with me. It wasn’t just the beauty of the place, it was the deep sense of purpose they carried.
My family is coming up to 100 years on Flinders Island, Tasmania. This isn’t just where we live. It’s part of who we are.
A Future for Our Kids
Now I’m a mum to Alice, Billy, and Georgina. Every decision I make, every business I run, circles back to a bigger question:
What kind of future are we creating for them?
I don’t want my kids, or any young islander, to feel they need to leave to find opportunity. I want them to see that a meaningful, creative, sustainable life is possible right here, on Flinders Island.
That vision is part of the Islander Way, a values-led approach to tourism across Tasmania that places people, culture, and community at the centre of every decision. It’s not just about visitors. It’s about making sure the island works for the people who live here first, so it can thrive for generations to come.
Not Just Any Tourism
That’s where regenerative tourism on Flinders Island comes in.
We’re never going to be a mass-market destination — and I wouldn’t want us to be. What we can offer is something slower, more connected, more real.
Tourism that reflects the true spirit of Tasmania’s remote islands:
Where visitors are invited into our way of life
Where they meet the grower, taste the story, and walk with someone who knows the land like kin
Where they leave not just rested, but reconnected
This is what the Islander Way calls for: experiences that respect local rhythms, protect our environment, and create deeper, more lasting bonds between visitors and community.
What Quality MeanS
To do that well, we need to commit to quality — not just in the product, but in the purpose.
For me, quality tourism on Flinders Island means:
✨ A guest experience grounded in genuine care and enriched by local knowledge
✨ A values-led business shaped by the people who live here
✨ A workplace that nurtures and trains local talent
✨ Operations that support our environment, not exploit it
✨ A rhythm that fits our island — not someone else’s idea of success
✨ Alignment with the Tourism Tasmania 2030 Strategy and the Islander Way — purposeful, inclusive, and resilient
Sustainability as a Guiding Principle
That’s also why we’re building a sustainability plan for our island business. Not as a tick-box exercise, but as a principle that guides how we build, operate, and welcome.
We call it return to nature.
Our goal is 100% zero emissions over time, and along the way we’re introducing:
Composting systems
Solar power
Reduced chemicals
Wastewater recycling
Waste minimisation across the board
This isn’t just sustainability. It’s regeneration, working with nature, not against it, and ensuring that the island is healthier and stronger for the next generation. This is regeneration tourism in practice: businesses that restore, repair, and respect the ecosystems they depend on.
Collaboration & Growth
We’re lucky to be part of a wider Tasmanian tourism community of learning and collaboration.
From the Tourism Tasmania Conference, to a four-day guiding course in Hobart, to the Flinders Island Ambassador Program, each has deepened my skills and strengthened our community ties.
The Islander Way reminds us that when we share knowledge and align our values, we all grow stronger, together.
Why It Matters
Every so often, a guest says something that reminds me exactly why this work matters.
One recently told me:
“I came for a long weekend and found myself barefoot, eating wallaby, and learning the difference between ‘island time’ and just… living properly. Best detour I’ve ever taken.”
That’s it. That’s the heart of it, why regenerative tourism in Tasmania matters, and why Flinders Island offers something different.
Our Commitment
Tourism isn’t just about visitors. It’s about community strength.
If we want thriving schools, accessible childcare, strong medical services, reliable airlines and shipping, and well-supported emergency services, we need a stable, healthy local economy. Thoughtful Flinders Island travel and tourism helps make that possible.
So this is my commitment:
🌿 To build businesses that bring joy to our visitors
🌿 To create workplaces that give dignity to our workers
🌿 To open pathways that give possibility to our young people
I don’t want to create something just Instagram-worthy. I want to create something lasting. Something that gives back more than it takes. Something that celebrates curiosity, connection, and care.
For our kids. For our island. For the future.
