Stakeholder Update | June 2020
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Above: Couple enjoying a fruit picking experience at Glendale Citrus and Hazelnut Orchard, Sandigo in the Riverina. Image credit: Destination NSW.
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A message from our Board
It’s nice to be writing with a more positive mindset amidst the chaos our industry has experienced so far this year. Venues are gently reopening and we are getting back to what we do, which is giving people an escape from the day-to-day to visit our wonderful area. I hope that you find a (new) routine and that trade is good for you and those around you.
To coincide with the 1 June restriction changes, the NSW Government’s tourism and events agency Destination NSW kicked off a major tourism marketing campaign, targeting NSW, Victorian and ACT residents with world-class experiences to be enjoyed in regional NSW. If you’re not already familiar with the program, I urge you get involved in the campaign by signing up to Get Connected with Destination NSW so you are featured on VisitNSW.com, which is the call to action for all marketing activity. Richie, Sarah, Katie and the Board are here to help.
The Riverina Murray region is well placed to benefit from the renewed interest in domestic tourism, offering a plethora of experiences that should tempt anyone to get out and about. Combined with increased traffic to the snowfields, we should all be getting ready to make the most of the opportunity.
I wish you the strength and courage to continue on and support each other. If you are passing through Albury, drop by for a coffee (or delicious local wine)!
Warm regards,
Alex
Alex Smit
Director, Destination Riverina Murray
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Are you keeping up with the latest industry news?
In between our monthly emails, we regularly share tourism and events industry updates for operators in our region over on LinkedIn and Instagram, and encourage you to follow along for the latest news.
We also encourage all tourism operators, councils and event owners to subscribe to industry updates from Destination NSW. Their weekly industry bulletin, Insights, is distributed every Friday with industry news and information on marketing campaigns, events, development opportunities and research. |
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Pictured: Couple enjoying a scenic walk through Woomargama National Park. Image credit: Destination NSW.
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Destination NSW launches new phase in tourism recovery campaign
To coincide with the change in travel restrictions for NSW, Destination NSW has kicked off a new phase of NSW’s tourism recovery campaign, Now’s The Time To Love NSW, which will run through June and July and targets NSW, Victorian and ACT residents.
NSW Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres launched the campaign last week which highlights the state's world-class experiences to motivate travellers to plan and book their next NSW escape.
The campaign includes a new television commercial and social media videos, paid media, a Local Stories video series starring tourism operators, and international digital advertising to keep overseas visitors dreaming of NSW. Live television breakfast broadcasts are also scheduled with Albury and Tumbarumba featured over the long weekend (see our In The Media section below).
How to get involved
- The call to action for all marketing activity is the visitnsw.com website so tourism businesses should ensure their Get Connected (ATDW) listings are up to date to make the most of this website traffic.
- Businesses can also be part of the campaign by using the hashtag #LoveNSW on their social media channels and engaging with @VisitNSW posts relevant to their region.
- Councils and Local Tourism Organisations can increase their destinations’ potential for visitation and booking through a tiered buy-in program connected to the Now’s The Time To Love NSW campaign.
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Pictured: Borambola Wines cellar door and wine tastings in Borambola. Image credit: Destination NSW.
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New resources for tourism businesses in the NSW First program
Destination NSW’s industry development program, NSW First, is designed to assist tourism businesses to develop, promote and sell tourism products and experiences. Two new free resources in the program have been released recently – a Quick Tips guide for video, and a digital marketing webinar.
How to shoot video: A beginner’s guide is the seventh Quick Tips guide released in recent months to help travel and tourism operators navigate these unprecedented times. Video content is a great way to showcase your brand and connect with your audience and the latest addition provides tips and tricks designed to improve the production quality of your business’ videos.
The Digital Marketing Tips: Love NSW webinar is now available as a replay. Featuring Destination NSW’s General Manager Marketing, it covers practical tips for your business’ digital and social media presence, along with more information on how you can get involved in the new Love NSW statewide marketing campaign and a Q&A session.
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Get the latest tourism industry updates from Destination NSW direct to your inbox
Subscribe to Destination NSW's must-read weekly newsletter Insights for the latest industry news, advice and updates on Government initiatives.
Delivered each Friday, the newsletter includes helpful resources for tourism businesses such as guides from Destination NSW's industry development program, links to upcoming industry events, updates from NSW tourism operators, and information about Government grant programs.
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We Are Explorers launches 'Explore Your Backyard' campaign with free tour operator listings
As travel restrictions are lifted, We Are Explorers is launching an 'Explore Your Backyard' campaign, designed to inspire travel within Australia and support local tour operators.
Pages for each state and territory have been created, mapping out adventures with feature articles, top hikes and day trips, adventure tours and lists of the best things to do.
Adventure tour operators around Australia are invited to express their interest in being showcased on the We Are Explorers platform. One hundred operators will be selected (10-20 in each state and territory) and listed for at least 6 months – fill in this form to be considered.
Consumers, destinations and businesses can further engage with the campaign by using their hashtag #ExploreYourBackyard in social media posts.
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Get involved with Tourism Australia’s Live from Aus
Last month, Tourism Australia’s Live from Aus kicked off with two full days of live content on their social media, featuring tourism offerings from across the country to inspire people to dream about their next holiday when travel restrictions are lifted.
Content designed to connect with potential travellers and provide ideas and inspiration is being published regularly on Tourism Australia’s social media channels, supported by links from Australia.com articles with information on how to plan a trip to those destinations.
Operators can get involved by joining the Facebook event and sharing it with their networks using #SeeAustralia. You can also stream your own events on your social media channels using the Live from Aus logo and submit them for consideration to Tourism Australia’s social media team for further promotion.
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Pictured: Friends enjoying a long lunch with scenic views at Food I Am, Wagga Wagga. Credit: Destination NSW.
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Industry survey to inform TAFE NSW training and resourcing
TAFE NSW works with business and industry to design courses that address current and future skill needs, and are working on a project to develop training that will assist the tourism industry to rebuild.
Detailed consultation with a number of thought leaders in the industry has been undertaken to gain a deeper understanding of the skills required for a rapid recovery, and industry are now invited to test this thinking through a TAFE NSW Rapid Recovery, Skills and Training Survey.
The survey takes 10 minutes to complete and closes Friday 19 June. Results will inform the training response from TAFE NSW and guide the direction of resources to provide the greatest value to our industry.
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Pictured: Scenic views over Kimo Valley from Kimo Estate near Gundagai. Credit: Destination NSW.
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COVID-Safe business planning resources and tools
A free online planning tool for businesses to plan how to keep their employees, customers and the wider community safe as they reopen or expand their activities is now available. Produced by the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission and bringing together information on government resources and assistance, a COVIDSafe plan is considered essential for businesses to resume operations and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
NSW businesses are encouraged to show their commitment to COVID safety by completing a COVID-19 Safety Plan, and registering as a COVID safe business. The NSW Government has now released industry guidelines to simplify the process.
These tools complement the Safe Work Australia online hub, the definitive source of information for businesses to understand their work health and safety obligations. Their COVID-19 resource kit includes checklists, infographics, fact sheets for industry and posters on handwashing, hygiene and physical distancing for business to download and display in their workplaces.
The Australian Tourism Industry Council has also compiled handy planning tools to build a Business Recovery Plan, as well as a Clean Practicing Business module which gives businesses customised daily, weekly, monthly and annual cleaning checklists, a risk register and further resources including workplace signage.
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$650 million in additional funding for National Bushfire Recovery Agency
The Australian Government recently announced more than $650 million in funding to accelerate locally-led bushfire recovery.
Part of the $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund, this package will support the delivery of local recovery plans and projects, help boost community wellbeing, assist forestry industries, strengthen telecommunications capabilities, and nurture native wildlife and habitats back to health.
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Pictured: Buggy transferring guests across the scenic grounds of Hillview Farmstay, Mount Adrah. Credit: Destination NSW.
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Join ATEC’s COVID READY program for sector-specific advice and guidance
The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has developed a ‘COVID READY’ program for tourism industry operators looking for additional support to gain the confidence and clarity they need to operate their businesses in the current environment.
Participants will have access to a tourism-specific COVID READY Tool Kit, online ‘how-to’ sector specific workshops and recognition badging through the industry trade directory of COVID READY operators.
Registrations are open and are free for ATEC members or $150 for non-members.
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In the media
Destination NSW secured Channel 9’s popular Weekend Today breakfast program to broadcast live from Albury and Tumbarumba over the long weekend. The live crosses are part of the Now’s the Time to Love NSW Reboot 2020 campaign activity.
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Weather presenter Lauren Phillips broadcasted live from MAMA Albury on Saturday and Braymont Gardens on Sunday. Additional pre-recorded segments showcased a number of other operators and attractions including canoeing on the Murray River, Circa Hotel Albury and the new Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail.
Pictured left (top to bottom): Lauren from Weekend Today films a cooking and local produce segment with The River Deck's chef, and broadcasts live from Braymont Gardens in Tumbarumba.
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Industry events
Digital Marketing Tips: Love NSW webinar
Watch the replay and gain practical digital and social tips for your business, plus find out more about the new Love NSW statewide marketing campaign.
Register and watch now.
Murray Regional Tourism webinars
Access MRT’s free webinar series with tips to communicate with your customers in the hibernation and reactivation phases and help you re-set, re-start and re-store your business.
Find out more and watch the replays.
ATEC: Free webinars for the tourism industry
Join free weekly Road to Recovery Tourism Tutorials designed to provide the tourism industry with skills in order to be ready for the bounce back. The 45-minute sessions will be hosted on Thursdays at 2pm.
Find out more and register now.
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Taste Riverina Food & Wine Adventure
Riverina | October
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Pictured: Kestrel Nest, Highfield Farm and Woodland’s newly completed luxury EcoHut.
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What's new in the Riverina Murray?
There are always new experiences awaiting visitors, as well as exciting news and updates from operators across the region.
- Highfield Farm and Woodland’s luxury EcoHut, Kestrel Nest, which narrowly escaped the summer bushfires during the building phase, has now opened and is welcoming guests. Located just minutes from the Hume Highway, it offers great opportunities for visitors to explore the surrounding region including Gundagai and the Snowy Valleys. This project was supported by Destination NSW through the Regional Tourism Fund.
If you're a new tourism-related business which has recently opened or an established operator with news to share, get in touch and let us know.
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