NSW Government encourages regional tourism growth

The NSW Government has released details of its new $300 million Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund, designed to benefit food and wine regions, walks through national parks, heritage buildings and regional tourist attractions.

Regional communities are being urged to submit expressions of interest for funding for environmental and tourism infrastructure projects to help grow and diversify local economies from the initial round of $100 million.

In addition, expressions of interest (EOI) are being called from local councils across rural and regional NSW to host the headquarters of New South Wales’ six new tourism Destination Networks.

All local councils in the relevant regions will be given an opportunity to express their interest in hosting the headquarters, with each Destination Network headquarters to house three full-time staff, including a general manager, which will support the work of the board and tourism projects in the respective regions.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the Destination Networks will facilitate visitor economy growth at the local level, through representing their region’s tourism industry, stating “I encourage councils to lodge an EOI for this fantastic opportunity to be directly involved in regional tourism.

“I look forward to the Destination Networks being fully operational and Destination NSW will be working closely with the chairs and local industry to continue to drive overnight visitation to our state’s many wonderful rural and regional communities, attractions and events.”

Commenting on the Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund, NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, John Barilaro, said the Fund is an exciting initiative, which will help to increase tourist numbers, drive job creation and build on other NSW Government regional investment programs.

He explained “(this) funding, if combined with other government and private sector contributions, will protect and enhance our precious environmental assets and build new tourism attractions across regional NSW.”

NSW Minister for the Environment, Gabrielle Upton, also highlighted the benefits of investment into regional environment and tourism projects, adding “improving regional environment and tourism infrastructure will attract more visitors to regional NSW, drive growth in local economies and make regional NSW an even more attractive place to live.”

Regional tourism contributes $14.4 billion to NSW, directly employing 84,600 people.

The EOI process for the new tourism Destination Networks headquarters is now open and will close on 17th March.

Click here for details on the Australasian Leisure Management tenders page.

Image: Wolgan Valley in the NSW Blue Mountains. Courtesy of Destination NSW

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