A group of dedicated councillors and tourism managers from the New England region met at the Glen Innes Land of the Beardies History House this week to discuss the Community Roadmap initiative of Inland NSW Tourism in encouraging and fostering a healthy tourism industry in the region.
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The meeting followed a workshop for New England tourist officers held in Uralla recently wherein Inland NSW Tourism chief executive Graham Perry outlined the need for a positive and collaborative approach to destination management in encouraging visitors to the region.
According to the strategy outline, the future of New England tourism is centred in the growing industry of agritourism that has become the brainchild of cultural shifts towards experiences based on the food, local produce and nature based tourism.
According to the Community Roadmap initiative, the key to destination management in the New England region is in promoting local heritage, arts, food and wine and a bent towards the natural, repositioning the region as a sanctuary and a place to reconnect with the “good things in life.”
According to Glen Innes Manager for Tourism and Events Peter Teschner, this week’s meeting at History House was to “develop strategies to put these things in action.”
Mr Teschner was attended by a number of tourism operators around the region including Glen Innes Severn Council Mayor and President of the Glen Innes Historical Society Colin Price, Senior Economic Development officer for the Tenterfield Shire Council Harry Bolton, Manager of Tourism and Marketing for the Inverell Shire Council Peter Caddey, President of the Inverell Chamber of Commerce and Industry Anthony Michael, NSW Parks and Wildlife representative David Nalder and tourism operator Katrina George, while the meeting was conducted by Inland NSW Tourism insdutrsy development specialist Renae Darlington who assisted the action group in developing strategies to attract a thriving tourism industry to the region.
“Everyone was really positive on the day,” Ms Darlington said.
“This was the first meeting of a series of work groups around the region and the stakeholders were really passionate about their work.”
Ms Darlington spoke highly of the tourism operaters who atteneded the meeting and said she truly enjoyed working with the group.
Following the meeting Mr Teschner spoke positively of the meetings outcomes, detailing seven primary actions that are projected to be completed for a second meeting held in early December.
This will include an annual accommodation audit that will include the Glen Innes area along with several other key points in the region to be centrally collated in Armidale, the development of food and beverage products in the region, promoting local produce, as well as industry training workshops, and the development of a regional digital hub and regional brand communications program.
Mr Teschner commended those who attended the meeting for their support of local business and projected positive results for the New England tourism industry in the future.
