Plans to grow conference sector in regional NSW

The NSW Government has released a $6 million NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy and Action Plan aimed at driving more business events and visitors to rural and regional NSW.

Announcing the Strategy, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the conferencing industry was currently worth $145 million to regional NSW each year and that the Plan aims to increase that, stating “through this strategy, we want to increase that contribution by bringing more conferences and visitors to regional NSW, and in turn boost local economies and create more jobs in our regional communities.”

As part of the plan, a Regional Conferencing Unit has been established within Destination NSW that will work closely with industry and the Destination Networks to build capacity and increase the number of business events held in regional NSW.

In addition, The Meet in Regional NSW website is now live to help showcase venues and destinations in regional NSW and a NSW Regional Conferencing Toolkit has been developed to offer tools and tips for regional business event suppliers.

The plan also includes the launch of the NSW Regional Conferencing Development Grants Program, which provides investment on a matched dollar-for-dollar basis to attract more business events. An initial investment of $500,000 has been allocated to this pilot program.

The move has been welcomed by Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) with Chief Executive Margy Osmond saying that the Plan will pave the way for regional communities to take full advantage of Australia’s lucrative business event market.

Osmond stated “bBusiness events are an incredibly sound investment. They support jobs, encourage visitation and contribute significantly to local economies, with business events visitors often spending up to four times more than regular tourists on accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, shopping and transport.

“The conferencing and business events industry plays a vital role in boosting regional economies, with the market contributing $145 million to regional NSW each year.

“However, the net worth of business events far exceeds their hard dollar value - they promote and showcase Australian innovation to the world, attract investment and bring national and international leaders into communities they would otherwise not have visited, and that is why we should be doing everything we can to grow this important sector.”

Image: Popular regional conference destination Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley.

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