Sites like the Cataract Gorge and Cradle Mountain should be two things visitors see on billboards when they enter the terminal and there should be more Tasmanian retail stores and restaurants.

These are just some of the ideas put forward as part of the draft Launceston Airport Master Plan, which was released for public consultation this week.

Launceston Airport general manager Paul Hodgen said the plan looked at the next 20 years, with an emphasis on the next five.

He said the airport was one of the fastest growing domestic airports in the country, ahead of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, and to meet demands, it needed to keep developing.

Three new gate lounges, another terminal off the existing Sharp Airlines terminal, a doubled retail space and baggage area are some of the draft plan proposals.

Mr Hodgen said the first of the new downstairs gate lounges – which will be built next to gate lounge two at the bottom of the stairs – could be open within the next two years.

‘‘We see ourselves absolutely pivotal in terms of stimulation for the local economy,’’ he said.

‘‘Particularly with the government’s thrust on tourism and its goal of attracting 1.5 million tourists a year by 2020, that’s something that we need to provide for.’’

Three million dollars has already been approved for an immediate upgrade of the retail and restaurant area inside the terminal.

Mr Hodgen said that would include moving the current bar to beside the window ‘‘to maximise the view’’ to the mountains.

He said the draft plan included space to double the check-in area, however with check-in growing online, it was unknown if the extra space would be needed.

‘‘There’s a future proofing for security in that we have the space available for another security channel, but that’s something that will be triggered further down the line,’’ he said.

Outside the terminal, work is under way to improve the airport’s entrance and car park.

The new entrance, to the side of the roundabout north of the previous entrance, has opened and is part of the plan to deal with increased traffic flows.

By the end of the month, the entrance will be walled with the words Launceston Airport, to give it a Tasmanian vineyard entrance-like feel.

The airport’s planning and environment manager Stephen Douglas said the airport was keen to see Evandale Road made a dual lane highway to cope with increased traffic.

‘‘The state government are currently doing a feasibility study on Evandale Road so we are chatting to them about that,’’ Mr Douglas said.

Mr Hodgen said the government’s goal of increasing Tasmanian visitor numbers from one million a year to 1.5 million a year was achievable.

Lonely Planet naming Tasmania a top 10 destination to travel to in 2015 could also increase tourism to the state.

The draft plan will be out for public consultation until January 30.

It will then be reworked and sent to the Federal Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister by March.

To view the draft plan, click here.

LAUNCESTON Airport management wants the state government to include guidelines to safeguard the airport in the state planning scheme.

The National Airports Safeguarding Framework assists local councils and governments when making decisions about development near airports.

The framework provides guidelines on aspects of development such as how wind-turbines and buildings built too close to the airport could be a risk to aviation and how dams could bring in wildlife, another threat to planes.

Launceston Airport planning and environment manager Stephen Douglas said he was keen for the state government to take up the guidelines.

"We'd like to see it include them in the state planning schemes so that when these sort of developments that might affect airport operations pop up, that they get referred to us for comment so that we can protect the asset that the community wants."

Mr Douglas said the airport was already consulted "to a limited degree".

"There are some areas that are protected, but not all," he said.

"Informally the council will advise us on a lot of these things or seek comment, but there's not a formal referral process for the guidelines. We'd rather have it more formalised."

Ways the airport is safeguarding itself from the community are included in its draft plan.

This includes a noise metric, which gives people an understanding of what the airport's noise will be like in the future.

Airport general manager Paul Hodgen said that while aircraft movements were expected to increase to more than 65,000 movements a year, new generation planes, with quieter engines would be used.