Funding Opportunities and More!

March 3rd, 2023

With the recent announcements of funding opportunities aimed at assisting tourism operators in regional NSW, we would like to quickly take the time to remind that the Destination Sydney Surrounds South team is here to support you with your applications. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or require a Letter of Support.

In other news, Aaron will be out and about in region running a series of Face-to-Face Fundamentals workshops over the next couple of months. These workshops will be tailored towards newer/undiscovered tourism businesses, so if you or some one you know would be interested in attending one of these workshops, please let us know! You can tell us by filling out this quick survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XPLY7HX

Destination NSW 2023-2024 Regional Event Fund
Now Open!

Regional communities and event organisers will now be able to tap into a funding pool worth $1.5 million through the Destination NSW 2023-24 Regional Event Fund.

Managed by Destination NSW, the fund will help support a wide range of regional events and festivals between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.

The Regional Event Fund offers three streams of funding:

Incubator Event Fund – offers grants of up to $20,000 to events that are in their first or second year of operation
Flagship Event Fund – offers grants of $20,000 and triennial grants of $30,000 for marketing activities aimed at attracting visitors from outside their immediate region
Event Development Fund – offers grants of up to $50,000 to support strategic growth initiatives to events that have completed their third year of triennial Flagship Event funding.

Applications for the Incubator and Flagship streams will close on Wednesday 29 March 2023, with the Event Development Fund remaining open on an ongoing basis or until the Fund is exhausted.

Apply Here

$3.5 Million Boost For Nature-based Tourism Operators Across NSW

Announced today, visitor economy businesses seeking to develop nature-based experiences may be eligible for a share in $3.5 million to support project expenses. Destination NSW is making available dollar-for-dollar matched grants from $100,000 up to $250,000 to businesses state-wide to grow NSW’s visitor economy. Eligible applicants include tour, attraction and accommodation providers and landholders.

The program has been developed in line with NSW Government strategies, including the Destination Network Destination Management Plans, to address key opportunities and actions.

Applications for the grants will open on 27 March 2023 with more information available soon.

Stay Informed

2023 NSW Regional Business Event Development Fund

Applications are still open for the 2023 NSW Regional Business Event Development Fund, managed by Destination NSW.

There are $750,000 worth of grants on offer to the NSW regional business events sector, which plays a significant role in boosting the regional NSW visitor economy.

Domestic overnight conference visitors inject almost $430 per night when they stay in our regions – 68 per cent more than domestic overnight leisure visitor spend.

Since the NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy’s launch in 2017, more than $3 million in funding support had been delivered to over 160 business events and grassroots projects.

Funding applications are open and will close on Friday 31 March 2023.

Apply Here

Tourism Australia International Market Update Videos

With ATE23 is just on the horizon now, the Tourism Australia international teams have prepared a series of recorded market updates that would be of interest to all of you, even those not joining the event on the Gold Coast this year.

You can access these updates here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEx2TQQndLq4gjqPQRzKYt7GxZZsYnqnv

In addition to this, the team will be hosting two very special LIVE Q&A sessions as a follow-up to the updates to answer any questions that might not have been covered in the pre-records.

The two sessions (and content covered) will be:

4.00pm Sydney time, Friday 3 March – Covering the UK, Europe, India, New Zealand
11.00am Sydney time, Friday 10 March – Covering the Americas, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, Korea

You can register for these here https://events.tourism.australia.com/ie-comms-only/marketupdate23

Please make sure you come prepared to the Q&A session having already watching the relevant market updates. The team won’t be looking to cover the same info again (so be sure to think of some juicy questions!)

The Murramarang South Coast Walk
Now Open For Bookings!

Recently announced by the Minister for Environment, James Griffin, this spectacular 3-day coastal walk in beautiful Murramarang National Park is open for bookings with the first walkers being able to experience everything the track has to offer from April 29, 2023.

National Parks and Wildlife Service will be launching a marketing campaign to support the Murramarang South Coast Walk, to increase awareness and drive bookings. The campaign will include social media, display advertising, as well as e-newsletters, website content, blogs and public relations activity.

For more information on the walk, please visit https://lnkd.in/gVqUQ57G

Nominations Open!
2023 NSW Top Tourism Town Awards

NSW Tourism Industry Council is now calling for towns across NSW to showcase their tourism excellence at the Top Tourism Town Awards 2023. The Top Tourism Town Awards highlight the value of tourism and the visitor economy to the cities, towns and villages across NSW and celebrates their commitment to encouraging tourism and visitation to their destinations, providing economic and social benefits to their communities.

There are three categories within the NSW Top Tourism Town program:

• Top Tourism Town
• Small Tourism Town
• Tiny Tourism Town

Nominations are now open!

For more information, please visit https://lnkd.in/gafp9FTb

Have You Seen Our New Destination Management Plan?

Unveiled by the Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Ben Franklin MLC, the new Sydney Surrounds South Destination Management Plan (DMP) highlights the unique strengths of the region and includes targeted actions for Government and industry collaboration to facilitate growth of a sustainable visitor economy and increased visitor spend.

Download A Copy Now!

Header image: Sparrowly Group Workshop
Image: Regional Event Fund, Destination NSW
Image: Nature-based Fund, Destination NSW
Image: Regional Business Event Development Fund, Business Events South Coast
Image: Murramarang South Coast Walk, Remy Brand & DPE
Footer image: DSSS DMP 2022-2030