Destination Download – July 2024

In this edition:

• News & Announcements

• Business & Skills Development, Resources, Events

• Industry Insights

• Local Updates & New Product

• Grant & Funding Opportunities

DNSW Regional Event Fund Recipients Announced!

Late last week Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Arts, Music and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham, announced that a number of regional events have been awarded funding through the NSW government’s Regional Event Fund.

The fund, managed by Destination NSW, bolsters event organisers with activities such as equipment hire, venue hire, market research, photography, videography, publicity and marketing in a bid to grow visitation and increase economic benefits for their destinations. The fund is a key contributor to the continued growth of the NSW visitor economy and has been designed to support event organisers grow in scale and build the NSW visitor economy, which is now worth more than $50 billion to the state.

We’d like to congratulate the following events for securing these much-needed event funds!

Incubator Stream
This supports the establishment of events in their first or second year of operation, providing seed funding of up to $20,000.

• Buangla Music & Arts Festival
• Bundanoon Folk Festival
• Clearly Presents ‘Land of Milk & Honey’
• MAKE GOOD Festival
• National Freestyle Mountain Bike Championships
• OpenField Arts Festival
• Ride Wollongong
• Ultra Trail Jervis Bay

Flagship Stream
This supports the marketing of emerging events to increase their profile and encourage visitation and offers an annual grant of $20,000 or a triennial grant of $30,000 for events that have already received the maximum of three annual grants.

• Port Kembla Festival
• StoryFest
• The Bay Games
• Winter Wine Festival

Elevate Your Events – Industry Development Workshops!

DSSS invites all event owners and organisers to an exclusive opportunity to enhance your skills and elevate your events through our in-region workshops. Join us and learn from an industry expert at one of our five interactive workshops designed to upskill and empower you.

Why Attend?

Our workshops aim to engage and inspire local event owners and organisers by providing essential tools and knowledge for creating successful and sustainable events.

Some of the key takeaways include:

• Developing a robust event management plan: Understand what makes a strong plan and how to implement it effectively.
   
• Capturing and utilising data: Learn the importance of data from the start and how it can ensure the longevity of your event.
   
• Grant funding success: Get tips for writing strong grant applications, leveraging your event management plan, and using relevant data to your advantage.

• Wollongong | 9:30 – 11:30am | Sage Hotel Wollongong | RSVP
• Shellharbour | 1:00 – 3:00pm | Civic Centre Shellharbour | RSVP

• Kiama | 9:30 – 11:30am | The Pavilion Kiama | RSVP
• Shoalhaven | 1:00 – 3:00pm | Shoalhaven Heads Bowling & Recreation Club | RSVP

• Wingecarribee | 9:30 – 11:30am | Mittagong RSL Club | RSVP

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to transform your events and drive your business forward. Register now and take the first step towards elevating your event management capabilities!

Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard

NSW visitor economy businesses can still register for the pre-certification Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard, which has now been extended until 30 June 2025. The scorecard can assist businesses to make informed decisions and take steps to enhance and promote sustainable practices.
 
Delivered by Destination NSW, in partnership with Ecotourism Australia, the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard is free to access and supports visitor economy businesses in evaluating their performance across four key pillars of sustainability:

• Environmental impacts
• Socio-economic impacts
• Cultural impacts
• Sustainable management.

• Learn how business can positively impact people, the planet and culture
• Evaluate current sustainability performance (in less than a day*)
• Receive personalised and practical insights for continuous improvement
• Clarify and simplify sustainability practices through a snapshot evaluation. 

Expressions of interest are now open to new registrants, and businesses have until 30 June 2025 to submit the scorecard. Successful applicants will be notified by Ecotourism Australia by email and provided with log-in details to commence the scorecard.
 
* The scorecard can be completed at your own pace, averaging 6 to 8 hours to complete.
 
The fully-funded Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard is delivered by Destination NSW in partnership with Ecotourism Australia as part of the NSW First Program, which assists businesses across the state to Develop, Promote and Sell world-class visitor experiences.

Free Personalised ATDW Support

Are you wondering if your Tourism Business Profile could work harder for you, but not sure where to start? Standing out online is a challenge for all businesses. That’s why ATDW offers free one-on-one profile optimisation sessions to help you succeed. The friendly team of experts will guide you in enhancing your profile to attract more customers.

Boost your visibility and connect with the right audience. Visit the ATDW website today, or book your one-on-one session now!

The Latest National & International Visitor Survey Results

The NVS and IVS for the March 2024 quarter are now published. 

NSW welcomed the largest share of international visitors and highest expenditure in the nation in the year ending March 2024, with visitors spending more nights in the state than pre-COVID-19.

Regional NSW was Australia’s favourite regional holiday destination in the year ending March 2024, attracting 66 million domestic visitors.

NVS Data – Click Here

IVS Data – Click Here

Destination NSW Budget Announced

The 2024-25 NSW Budget has been announced, with $1.66 billion in funding allocated to the arts, tourism and night-time economy.

Destination NSW received $324.5 million in funding to support its focus on experience tourism, including investment in visitor experience development, marketing and events to drive visitation to the state.

The 2024-25 NSW Budget provides investment in visitor infrastructure across regional NSW, including an additional $50 million for the Regional Development Trust, bringing this pipeline of investment to $400 million.

Agritourism Summit Comes to the Southern Highlands

Destination NSW is proud to support Australia’s first Agritourism Summit which is set to take place on 29 August 2024 in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

The event is where tourism and farming connect in an insightful and practical day-long event. This unmissable event will offer a unique opportunity for aspiring and established agritourism entrepreneurs to gain valuable knowledge and network with industry leaders. Early bird tickets on sale now!

Don’t forget, the DSSS website has a suite of useful resources available for anyone looking to diversify into the world of Agritourism. Check it out here!

The Long Lunch Comes To Jervis Bay

For the first time this September, Jervis Bay will play host to a unique 10 course degustation lunch on the white sands between Moon Moona Creek Reserve and Plantation Point. With food and beverage partners such as Bangalay Dining, Old Salt Distillery, Appellation Oysters, The Gunyah at Paperbark Camp and beloved cater and private chef Blackhen Kitchen on hand, this is going to one extraordinary culinary experience and a memorable day.

Its long been a dream of Experience Nature founder, Amanda Fry, to host Coastal Forage, a unique 10 course degustation lunch in beautiful Jervis Bay, on some of the whitest sand in the world. “After 3 years in Kangaroo Valley, the much-loved Forage is making its way to the coast. And I could not be more excited. I believe events and experiences need to evolve and tasting product from the sea, coast and hinterland, as you take in the blue waters of Collingwood Beach, offers guest something really special. I am counting the days until we beach walk and graze” said Amanda.

“You are in for a treat with Coastal Forage, a 10-course walking degustational along on the white sand beaches of Jervis Bay. We hope people stay a few days and enjoy everything Jervis Bay and beyond has to offer including Huskisson, which was just awarded the Top Tiny Tourism Town in NSW for a second year in a row! 

Shoalhaven is known for its incredible beaches and unspoilt nature, but many are just discovering our fantastic foodie scene. Combine the two and you have this fantastic event. We are proud to support Coastal Forage that showcases some of our best chefs, makers and produce.”

– Kristy Mayhew, Shoalhaven City Council Tourism & Economic Development Manager, Acting. 

Coastal Forage is proudly supported by Shoalhaven City Council

The Coastal Forage is on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September 2024

Electric Vehicle (EV) Destination Charging Grants

To help reach net zero by 2050 whilst also continuing to grow the our economy, a total of $10 million of funding has been made available in round 2 of the program. These grants will provide co-funding towards the purchase and installation of select 7kW to 22kW AC EV chargers as well as the first year of an annual EV charger software subscription.

Round 2 applications will now close on Friday 2 August 2024 at 5 pm.