Contact Us

Stakeholder Update | December 2018

December 21st, 2018

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Message from the Chair


Destination Sydney Surrounds South has had a successful year and looks forward to building on this success in 2019, particularly as we near completion on a number of our major projects and continue momentum on others.

Destination Sydney Surrounds South’s key objectives include, in conjunction with our stakeholders and operators, unification and collaboration of programs – creating borderless self drive tours for our FIT visitors from our major airports including Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, encouraging and promoting the ‘localhood’ experience and heroes.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our stakeholder across the region for their support of Destination Sydney Surrounds South and for your contributions to our various projects.

On behalf of the Board and team, I wish everyone a healthy and prosperous festive season.

Colin Waller
Chair, Destination Sydney Surrounds South

New Wollondilly Mayor elected
Welcome to Clr Matthew Deeth who was elected as new Mayor at an Extraordinary Meeting of Wollondilly Council on Monday evening. Clr Matt Gould was elected unopposed as Deputy Mayor. Read more.

Public exhibition period extended on draft Illawarra Escarpment strategies
The public exhibition period for the draft Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy and draft Mt Keira Summit Park Plan of Management has been extended until this Friday 21 December 2018.

Have your say – Wingecarribee Shire Council Draft Rural Tourism Policy
Wingecarribee Shire Council is currently seeking feedback on its draft Rural Tourism Policy. The purpose of the policy is to provide a strategic framework within which tourism, agriculture and the Shire’s unique environmental sensitivities can all mutually coexist. Submissions must be provided by 1 March 2019. 

Regional flights launched at Illawarra Regional Airport
On 12 November, Fly Corporate commenced passenger services from Illawarra Regional Airport to Melbourne and Brisbane. Owned by Corporate Air, one of the largest and longest established air charter and aviation service provers based in eastern and southern Australia, Fly Corporate provides flights to and from Melbourne Monday to Friday and Sunday. To and from Brisbane Monday, Wednesday and Friday, return also available Sundays.

Arts bigger drawcard that wineries, casinos and sport
According to a new report from the Australia Council for the Arts, visitors are increasingly packing their suitcases to come to Australia for the arts and authentic cultural experiences. Read more.

Changes to Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa
Farmers in regional and rural areas across Australia are set to received more support to resolve labour shortages with new changes to two visa programs recently announced by the Federal Liberal and National Government. Read more.

Latest Tourism Australia resources available
International visitor arrivals data shows Australia welcomed 9.2 million international visitors for the year ending October 2018 up 5.2 per cent, representing an additional 457,000 visitors.
Tourism Australia has published presentations from the recent industry briefing held in Sydney on Friday 23 November. It has also recently published a number of recorded presentations from senior managers responsible for activities in the USA, the UK, Japan and India on the current state of each of the markets.

Registrations for Local Government NSW Tourism Conference now open
Registrations for the annual LGNSW Tourism Conference are now open, for the event to be held 17 to 19 March 2019 in Terrigal. Read more and register here.

Regional Flagship Events Program
Regional events held between July and December 2019 can now apply for funding through Round Two of the 2019 Regional Flagship Events Program. Event organisers are encouraged to get their applications in as early as possible. Applications close midnight, Sunday 13 January 2019.
Two stream are available:
  • Incubator Event Fund – to support the establishment of new events being held in the first or second year.
  • Flagship Event Fund – supports the marketing of emerging events (third or more year) to increase their profile and encourage visitation.
Regional Tourism Product Development Program
To encourage investment and development of tourism infrastructure, local government, tourism and sector organisations, and private enterprise are encouraged to apply for funding to implement projects across NSW. Proposals are to be submitted by 30 June 2019.

NSW Regional Business Event Development Fund
To help stakeholders create, attract and support exciting business events, to support new business event initiatives and assist regions to secure successful conferences and business events for their future. Funding will be offered until 30 June 2019 or until the funding pool has been expended.

NSW Heritage Grants 2019-21
The Heritage Grants Program is designed to help owners, custodians, managers and communities to know, value and care for their heritage. The program is delivered by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage together with the Heritage Council of NSW. Applications close 12noon, 8 February 2019. 
Four funding streams are available:
Award Winners

NSW Tourism Awards

Winners celebrating at the 2018 NSW Tourism Awards. Image via NSW Tourism Awards.
Well done to all of the winners and finalists at the 2018 NSW Tourism Awards, held at Luna Park in Sydney on Thursday 22 November.
Congratulations to the following Sydney Surrounds South operators who won Gold and Bronze in their categories. Special mention goes to Cupitt’s Winery and Brewery for being inducting into the Hall of Fame for winning Gold three consecutive years in the Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries category. 
Destination Marketing
Gold: Shoalhaven Tourism – 100 Beach Challenge Campaign

Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Bronze: Cupitt’s Kitchen

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
Gold – Hall of Fame: Cupitt’s Winery and Brewery
 
Luxury Accommodation
Bronze: Mt Hay Retreat

Excellence in Food Tourism
Gold: Cupitt’s Winery, Brewery, Fromagerie and Kitchen
Canberra Region Tourism Awards
A big congratulations to the team at Destination Southern Highlands for winning the Destination Marketing category at the Canberra Region Tourism Awards for their ‘Pie Time’ campaign.
The award was announced at a gala event held at Hotel Realm in Canberra on Friday 23 November.
Qantas Australian Tourism Awards
Best of luck to Cupitt’s Winery and Brewery, Shoalhaven Tourism and Destination Southern Highlands who are finalists in the 2018 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.
Winners will be announced at the awards celebration to be held in Launceston on Friday 1 March 2019.

Inbound Strategy

A practical workshop designed to assist tourism businesses, such as tours, attractions and accommodation, to plan the final steps to develop and sell export-ready tourism products to the international travel trade.
DATE: 6 June 2019
TIME: 10:30 – 15:45
VENUE: Destination NSW, 88 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney
COST: $50
Register now

On Demand Webcasts

NSW First program is designed to assist tourism businesses to develop, promote and sell their tourism products. The program includes online webcasts that offer ‘how-to’ insights on a range of topics including:

  • Flagship Events Program series
  • Export Ready 101 & Inbound Strategy series
  • Regional Tourism Fund series
  • Aboriginal Tourism
Learn more & watch now