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Road to recovery – a message from DSSS
It’s been a tough start to 2020 with some parts of the region still under threat from bushfires, while other parts have been affected by a lingering smoke haze. Our thoughts are firmly with local, state and communities all around Australia dealing with these unprecedented events that present significant challenges for our industry and broader economy.
Rest assured, like you, we are looking towards the road to recovery and with an understanding of the challenges faced by businesses of all sizes DSSS is providing advocacy and a strong voice to local, state and federal government agencies and industry to ensure the visitor economy is a key part of the recovery process.
Last Thursday, we attended the Southern NSW Fire Recovery Committee meeting held in Queanbeyan to provide input and hear updates from key industry groups and agencies. DSSS is playing a key and active role on behalf of industry as part of the Small Business and Tourism Sub-Committee tasked with developing and delivering short, medium and long term solutions. Information we have gathered from around the region is being used to bring key issues to the forefront and inform the development of solutions and opportunities. Whether you have been directly affected by fire or in-directly by loss of business we encourage all to complete the Bushfire Impacts on Your Small Business survey to ensure your voice is heard and situation understood by local, state and federal Government decision makers.
Last Wednesday, our team met with NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism, Stuart Ayres. Central to our discussions were tangible initiatives short and medium term to lead business recovery. DSSS in partnership with Destination NSW will be focused on implementing recovery plans across the short, medium and long-term.
Its pleasing and inspiring to see a number of locally led social and media campaigns underway complimenting Tourism Australia’s Holiday Here This Year and Event Here this Year campaigns focused on domestic visitation.
Local campaigns such as Shoalhaven Tourism’s Rejuvenate are also gaining great traction in shifting perception by showcasing that we are open with real time localised content and characters. This week watch out for the Ch7 Sunrise team broadcasting from Shoalhaven to showcase to a national audience that we are here and ready to welcome visitors to the beautiful South Coast of NSW.
Finally, Destination Sydney Surrounds South together with Destination Southern NSW will be hosting an Industry Recovery Summit on Thursday 20th February at Willinga Park. Speaker line-up is being finalised with invitations due to be send out this week.
Stay safe and take care,
Greg, Steve and the DSSS Board.
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Survey for businesses affected by fire
NSW Small Business Commission on behalf of the Fire Recovery Committees has now released the official survey being used to measure the impacts of the bush fires that have challenged regional NSW over several months.
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Destination NSW bushfire information for industry
Destination NSW has made available a comprehensive factsheet for industry which includes resources for immediate use and where to find advice about obligations to employees and customers, including how to deal with cancellations and refunds.
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$76m tourism recovery package
Australians are being encouraged to throw their support behind Australia’s tourism industry in the wake of the devastating bushfires by holidaying in their own backyard. Tourism Australia’s Holiday Here This Year campaign taps into the overwhelming goodwill and support for local communities impacted by the recent bushfires, by urging Australians to plan, book and take a domestic holiday and share their experiences with friends and online.
Tourism Australia will coordinate the following programs:
- Temporarily re-enter the domestic marketing space, coordinating a national campaign in partnership with the states and territories ($20 million);
- International recovery campaign funding boost ($25 million);
- Increase their international media hosting activities ($9.5 million);
- Increase support for the Australian Tourism Exchange ($6.5 million).
The industry ‘toolkit’ which contains information on what this campaign is all about, along with some logos for use in your own marketing, is available via the buttons below.
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Implication of Coronavirus for Australian Tourism
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China. As a result, it has been announced that all group travel from China has been suspended from 27 January globally, and reports suggest this ban will remain in place until at least 31 March 2020. The Australian Government is working closely with state and territory governments and industry to monitor the implications of the virus for Australian tourism operators.
Tourism Australia has updated its website to include information on the outbreak and links to relevant websites where travellers can access the latest health and travel advice.
Further information (including tailored information sheets for industry) is available on the Department of Health website.
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IMPORTANT: Advice for hotel and tourism operators on the Coronavirus from the Chief Medical Officer
The Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Government, Professor Brendan Murphy, has issued some early advice and guidance for tourism operators on managing concerns over the Coronavirus. The advice includes:
- a recommendation that guests who are well but may be incubating the virus should isolate themselves in their hotel rooms. As an added precaution, isolation should be for 14 days
- practical information for your staff on engaging with guests who are well, but are in isolation
- the importance of guests in isolation seeking medical advice if they become ill
- accessing further information on this emerging situation at www.health.gov.au.
The Department of Health has also produced specific fact sheets for Hotels and Hotel Staff and Hotel Guests.
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NSW Premier announces independent bushfire inquiry
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced an independent expert inquiry into the 2019-20 bushfire season. The inquiry will be led by Dave Owens, former Deputy Commissioner of NSW Police, and Professor Mary O’Kane AC, Independent Planning Commission Chair and former NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer.
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Domestic business events campaign
On 28 January 2020, Australia’s Minister for Tourism, Simon Birmingham, announced that Tourism Australia’s specialist business events unit, Business Events Australia, is coordinating a domestic campaign for the events industry. The Event Here This Year campaign urges organisations to hold their conferences, events, exhibitions and incentives in Australia this year to provide a boost to the events industry in the wake of the bushfires.
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#KeepOnCamping & #RecoveryWeekend
- Keep on Camping
Caravan Industry Association of Australia has launched a “Keep On Camping” website to provide caravanners and campers with the most up-to-date information on the status of caravan parks in regions impacted by the recent bushfires to help boost tourism in regional areas. Read more
- Recovery Weekend
Destination NSW is encouraging the public to take a #RecoveryWeekend in and around NSW to give regional communities a boost. The message is that visitors can feel good and do good at the same time by taking a road trip, heading to the coast, exploring inland or returning to a favourite destination.
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AAT Kings rolls into the Shoalhaven
AAT Kings has rolled out a selection of not-for-profit day tours and short breaks across New South Wales. Designed to provide immediate support to tourism communities that have been affected by recent bushfires.
Launched in collaboration with Empty Esky and regional tourism businesses in Australia, the Bushfires Relief Giveback Experiences have been developed respectfully and in conjunction with local communities, and all trips are 100 per cent not-for-profit for AAT Kings.
The itinerary includes a trip to Kangaroo Valley and morning tea at a local café, before heading to Nowra Farmers Market, where guests can taste and buy local produce and fill up their #emptyesky, with every cent going directly to the farmers.
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Country show sponsorship packages
Ongoing drought and bushfire conditions are making it hard for many towns and communities to run country shows. This funding will help these critical, morale-boosting events to go ahead.
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Southern Highland Business Recovery Workshop
Southern Highland Chamber of Commerce are hosting a FREE business and marketing workshop for all businesses and their staff on how to implement a business recovery strategy.
- 05/02/2020 6:30 PM, BDCU Alliance Bank 411 Bong Bong Street Bowral NSW 2576
- 11/02/2020 6:30 PM, BDCU Alliance Bank 411 Bong Bong Street Bowral NSW 2576
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