Stakeholder Update | December 2019
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Above: Couple enjoying an afternoon of kayaking along Lake Mulwala, Mulwala. Credit: Destination NSW.
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A message from our Chair
I am delighted to present the Destination Riverina Murray Annual Report for the 2018/ 2019 Financial Year.
As regional NSW grapples with its biggest challenges in recent decades, industry development organisations like ours will remain critical, for providing the support and development assistance necessary to drive the future economic success and sustainability of the regions.
Destination Riverina Murray (DRM), in partnership with Destination NSW, Murray Regional Tourism, Thrive and local government organisations, has delivered unprecedented marketing and promotional programs for the region during the year. These programs harnessed traditional and social media platforms nationally, to drive greater awareness of, and interest in, the premium tourism offering across the Riverina Murray region.
Coupled with a strong focus on product development and training, these initiatives have lifted the tourism industry across the Riverina Murray region considerably, driving greater visitation and expenditure across the region and providing a higher quality experience for the people who travel here.
I encourage everyone to provide their feedback on DRM’s performance through our stakeholder survey, including any suggestions for improvement. Your input will ensure our organisation continues to understand and deliver on the expectations of stakeholders across our region in the tourism sector.
We look forward to delivering more successful outcomes for the tourism sector across the Riverina Murray region in 2020, as we continue to work towards the targets set by the NSW Visitor Economy Industry Action Plan 2030.
I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a prosperous holiday tourist season throughout December and into January 2020.
Genevieve Fleming
Chair, Destination Riverina Murray
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Keeping up with the latest Riverina Murray news?
In between our monthly email updates, 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. |
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Pictured: Sarah Hope, Destination Riverina Murray Business Development Manager, with Jamie Pascoe, General Manager of The Roundabout Restaurant in Wagga Wagga.
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We've Got the Goods episode #2 now live featuring The Roundabout Restaurant, Wagga
In episode #2 of We’ve Got the Goods, Jamie Pascoe from The Roundabout Restaurant in Wagga Wagga chats about how developing relationships with local farms and suppliers can benefit everyone.
Take less than 7 minutes out of your day and watch as he shares his experiences, the reasons they love incorporating local produce into the menu, plus advice for other operators.
If you’re looking to start incorporating more local produce into your menu, our friends at RDA Riverina have a great list of producers you could start with, and Jamie has also kindly shared some of the Roundabout’s regular suppliers you might be interested in (see the list and links on the video description in YouTube).
This is our last episode for 2019, but we’ll be showcasing more operators from the region in early 2020, so stay tuned for episode 3!
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Accommodation Investment Prospectus series now available for the Riverina Murray
Earlier in the year, Destination Riverina Murray undertook an audit of accommodation across the region and published the Riverina Murray Accommodation Market Assessment Report, an in-depth analysis of supply and demand, including forecasting the demand out to 2027 based on projected growth in the visitor economy.
The project has now progressed to a second phase and a series of four investment prospectuses have been published for Wagga Wagga and Eastern Riverina, Griffith and Western Riverina, Albury Hume, and the Snowy Valleys.
The investment prospectuses are published on the Invest page of our website and DRM will actively meet with key players in the accommodation and property industry to ensure they are aware of the opportunities currently available.
The documents highlight a range of opportunities and growth areas for both existing property owners and new entrants to the market, and we encourage you to get in touch if you’re considering either expanding or refurbishing your existing property or developing new accommodation and want to know more.
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Pictured: Event-goers enjoy the Taste Riverina Alley at Handmade Canberra in March, led by Destination Riverina Murray in partnership with Thrive Riverina.
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Last chance to share your thoughts on Destination Riverina Murray’s programs and initiatives
Since the Destination Network model was introduced by the NSW Government in 2017, Destination Riverina Murray have worked hard to deliver a range of projects and initiatives designed to develop the tourism industry and to ultimately bring more visitors to our towns and cities.
We want to hear from industry to understand if what we are doing is working for your business or organisation, and most importantly, if it is working for the Riverina Murray region’s tourism industry.
Share your feedback through our five-minute survey and help shape our actions moving forward and ensure the programs and initiatives we plan for the future are providing value to you and helping to encourage more visitors to the region.
The survey is open until 5pm this Friday, December 20, and your response will be completely anonymous.
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Annual Report 2018/19 now available online
At the beginning of the 2018/19 financial year, the Destination Riverina Murray board and staff set ambitious goals and objectives designed to energise and inspire the region’s tourism industry, to educate and equip operators for growth, to ensure more resources were committed to marketing the region, and to ultimately increase visitation to the towns, villages and cities.
The objectives set were a strategic mix of product development and marketing initiatives that have been delivered in close collaboration with our partners including Destination NSW, Thrive Riverina, Murray Regional Tourism and the 22 local government areas in the Riverina Murray region.
The 2018/19 Annual Report document summarises the key projects and initiatives delivered during the financial year, and is now available on our website.
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Wagga Beach named one of the country’s best
Riverside: Wagga Beach has been named one of the top 10 best beaches in Australia, coming in at ninth in the Top 20 Beaches of 2020 compiled by Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador Brad Farmer AM.
The list was officially announced at Wagga Beach last week with a community breakfast beach party, and has already attracted media coverage both nationally and internationally - see our In the media section below for more.
It’s great to see the region’s unique waterways recognised with Wagga Beach the first inland beach to ever feature in Mr Farmer’s lists. The precinct will also continue to improve, with Wagga Wagga City Council set to commence stage two of the Riverside upgrade in the new year.
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Applications closing soon for ART’s Emerging Tourism Professional Program
In 2020, Australian Regional Tourism (ART) are partnering with Tourism Australia and the Caravan Industry Association of Australia to deliver the Emerging Tourism Professional Program.
Finalists will receive some fantastic opportunities including a full delegate registration at the 2020 ART Convention (valued at up to $1,500), and a professional development program with Ali Uren at Kiikstart (valued at up to $5,750).
To be eligible, applicants must be under 30 and working in the tourism industry in regional Australia, or in a role that primarily focuses on regional tourism. Applications close 5pm next Monday, 23 December.
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Summer events encouraged to list for free exposure on visitnsw.com and other websites
We encourage all event owners to list on visitnsw.com for FREE promotion to take advantage of the busy summer visitation period and people planning ahead for 2020.
Through Get Connected, Destination NSW gives you the opportunity to showcase your tourism products and events on their consumer websites at no charge and tap into over 2.4 million potential customers a month, both domestic and international.
To take advantage of this service, you simply register via the ATDW-Online website which is the national digital tourism platform that powers the Get Connected Program.
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New Qantas flights to Mildura set to take off in 2020
Qantaslink is set to begin direct flights between Sydney and Mildura in March 2020, offering a great alternative for visitors heading to nearby attractions such as Mungo and Yanga National Parks.
The flights operating four days per week will offer more than 30,000 seats each year, and save travellers approximately two hours when compared to flying via Melbourne.
To celebrate the launch of the route, $179 one-way sale fares are now available to book online for selected dates at qantas.com.
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Based on the book of the same name, A Gondola on the Murray featured legendary Mildura restaurateur Stefano de Pieri and was first screened in 1998. A new series featuring the Mildura region and its great produce has now started screening on SBS Food. Watch the first two episodes on demand now, and tune in this Sunday from 5:30pm for episode 3 and 4. You can also watch the original series on SBS on Demand.
The start of construction for the expansion of Coleambally's Brolga Hotel was marked by Wes Fang, NSW Nationals MLC in the town last week. There was coverage of the milestone, funded through Destination NSW's Regional Tourism Fund, in the Mirage News and other publications.
Pictured left (L to R): Reviewing the Brolga Hotel expansion plans are Destination Riverina Murray General Manager Richie Robinson, NSW Nationals MLC Wes Fang, Murrumbidgee Council Mayor Ruth McRae, and property owners.
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Industry events
LGNSW Tourism Conference
The 2020 LGNSW Tourism Conference is being held from 16 to 18 March in Jindabyne with the support of Snowy Monaro Regional Council. The new style of program for 2020 will feature less formal, plenary style presentations and more smaller group workshop style sessions.
Find out more and register now.
The Business of Events 2020
A conference for government and tourism professionals discussing the proven event strategies driving regional visitation. Hear speakers from organisations including Visit Sunshine Coast and Lake Macquarie City in Sydney on 19 March 2020.
Find out more and register now.
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Funding opportunties
Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF)
Round 4 of the BBRF is now open for projects that will benefit communities affected by drought. Eligible projects will fit into either the Infrastructure Project Stream or the Community Investments Stream which includes activities such as local events, strategic planning and regional leadership and capability.
Applications close 5pm, 19 December 2019.
Find out more.
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Voyage to Limone
Griffith | 22 December
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Coolamon New Year's Eve Street Party
Coolamon | 31 December
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Thirsty Merc Live and Free
Mulwala | 4 Jan
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Riverboats Music Festival
Echuca-Moama | 14-16 February
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Pictured: Andrew Milton and Joel Carey in front of the Albury-inspired mural in their new business 2640 Restaurant and Bar. Image credit: Mark Jesser, Border Mail.
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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.
- Albury's newest eatery, 2640 Restaurant and Bar, opened earlier this month, heroing the city in everything from its name to the local produce served up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The space also features a mural inspired by Albury (pictured above) which includes locations such as Lake Hume's wall, Monument Hill and the Bethanga Bridge.
- The Riverina Outdoor Art Trail, a collaborative project from a group of Riverina councils, was recently launched. Follow scenic highways and wide country roads across the region to discover a diverse range of art including the magnificent Weethalle Silo Mural, Narrandera Water Tower Mural and Lockhart Water Tower Mural.
- The Snowy Valleys Beverage Trail was recently launched by Snowy Valleys Council and features a range of the wines, beers, ciders, and liqueurs produced nearby.
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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