We report on the exciton-plasmon interaction and fluorescence resonance energy transfer controlled photoluminescence quenching and switching in β-In2S3 microflowers dispersed in Au nanoparticle colloid. The strong resonant interaction of excited β-In2S3 microflowers with the surface plasmons of Au nanoparticles (520 nm) lead to shift in the excitonic binding energy (2.4 eV) with a magnitude of 50 meV. In the proximity of Au nanoparticles, the broad emission spectrum of β-In2S3 microflowers with prominent peak at wavelength of540 nmis quenched and the peak switches to wavelength of 600 nm. We demonstrate that the quenching and switching of emission band depends on the rate of fluorescence resonance energy transfer, extent of spectral overlap and β-In2S3 microflowers (donor)-Au nanoparticles (acceptor) distance. This study opens the wide possibility of fabricating sensors and photonic devices with tunable optical properties. © 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd.