Image- Merimbula Marina
 

Sapphire Coast Tourism (SCT) Update June 2017

Winter has been anything but quiet in the SCT engine room...

Last Thursday the team hosted an Industry Networking Night with around 100 local operators at the Rockpool Cafe, Club Sapphire. Some travelled from as far away as Brisbane, Melbourne and Jindabyne to catch up on new product and seek opportunities to leverage their activities.

The guest list doubled after the first networking event held in November, demonstrating that these opportunities are ideal for stimulating partnership & business ideas and encouraging advocacy. The next networking opportunity will be held in October.

As always we encourage industry contributions, questions etc. You will find us on 6495 7031 or email.

Cheers,

Anthony Osborne
Executive Officer
Sapphire Coast Tourism

This update includes

▪ Merimbula to host new Destination Network offices
▪ Industry Networking Night #2
▪ Grant Funding Opportunities
▪ Sapphire Coast Brand toolkit for operators
▪ Australian Tourism Expo: Sapphire on Show
▪ Singapore bloggers promoting Sapphire Coast
▪ Digital update as record tumbles
▪ Social media tips
Merimbula to host new Destination Network offices
Industry Networking Night #2
Grant Funding Opportunities
Sapphire Coast Brand toolkit for operators
Australian Tourism Expo: Sapphire on Show
Singapore bloggers promoting Sapphire Coast
Digital update as record tumbles
Social media tips

Campaigns
* DNSW Unspoilt : Whales in market.
* Melbourne Whale Watching competition.

Cruise
* $360k Boost from Ports Authority NSW.
* End of season cruise debrief

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Unspoilt South Coast to make a splash this whale season

The Unspoilt South Coast campaign has launched with Sapphire Coast Whale Watching experiences featuring in digital media.

The $700,000 plus promotional campaign includes Digital, PR and trade promotions.

The 2016 Unspoilt Campaign delivered over 50,000 leads to Sapphire Coast businesses on visitnsw.com.

Dare we say it... make sure you Get connected or miss out.

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New Destination Network has a home in Merimbula

Following the regional tourism review which saw the formation of 6 new destination networks for NSW, the newly formed Destination Southern NSW Inc will be located in Merimbula.

The newly formed network covers eight (8) Local Government Areas including Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Goulburn Mulwaree, Hilltops, Queanbeyan‐Palerang, Snowy Mountains, Upper Lachlan, and Yass Valley.

The state's new regional tourism plan is still in its early days, but overall the increased investment and focus on regional tourism is timely and has been very well received by Sapphire Coast industry.

Destination Southern NSW has a large area of responsibility, including other tourism heros in the Snowies and Eurobodalla. Having the head office located in Merimbula will be very convenient for us but note the DN's focus will be on destination development for the whole region. SCT has already begun to work with closely the DN team to ensure robust advocacy on our behalf, in their negotiations with Destination NSW and other NSW agencies, with regard to ongoing challenges and opportunities for our tourism stakeholders.

As always local tourism bodies will remain a vital cog in tourism, working hands-on with local industry to develop experiences and promote regions. In our case, in partnership with Bega Valley Shire Council, we will remain deeply immersed in the job of improving tourism outcomes on the Sapphire Coast.

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Networking Night 6

Tim Shepherd and Paul Pincini talking Light2Light Coastal Walks

Networking event a stunning success

Networking, sharing ideas and seeing presentations from new tourism operators made for a winning recipe at last week's Industry Networking Night.

Around 100 industry operators gathered at Club Sapphire, (who catered with a delicious selection of their hero dishes from Eat Merimbula) over 4 hours.

Special thanks to these business who presented and all those who joined us.

Presenters were;
* Club Sapphire
* On the Perch
* Kangaroo Tours at PMGC
* Bega Valley Regional Gallery
* Light2Light Coastal Walks and day tours
* Merimbula Marina
* Four Winds
* Free Spirit Airlines

Keep an eye out for the next event planned for October.

Networking Night 3

IT guys don't miss much!

Networking Night 2

Business partnerships began

Networking Night

Cultural tourism was heavily involved.

IMG 5181

Tony and Linda from On The Perch kept the crowd amused

Networking Night 8

Where does Captain Sponge's nickname originate from?

Networking Night 1

The Club Sapphire set up was perfect

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Grant funding opportunities

Regional Jobs and Investment Packages (RJIP)
The Australian Government has committed $220 million to the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages (RJIP) to help regions in Australia to diversify their economies, stimulate long-term economic growth and deliver sustainable employment.

Ten pilot regions have been chosen to be a part of the RJIP. These regions have much untapped potential which, if unlocked could lead to new sources of growth, economic diversity and the opportunity to pursue export markets. RJIP aims to support these regions to meet the opportunities that will help to secure their economic future.

The packages will be delivered across the following ten regions:

Bowen Basin ($30m)
New South Wales North Coast ($25m)
New South Wales South Coast ($20m)
Wide Bay Burnett ($20m)
Goulburn Valley ($20m)
Tropical North Queensland ($20m)
Geelong, will receive ($20m)
Regional Tasmania, ($25m)
Upper Spencer Gulf ($20m)
Latrobe Valle ($20m)
Programme Guidelines, contact details for enquiries and other programme information

Regional Tourism Fund
The NSW Government has committed $13 million in regional tourism funding, between 2016 and 2019, to support the regional tourism industry in NSW.

Up to $4 million is available in 2016/17 and $4.5 million will be available during 2017/18 and 2018/19. Any funds unallocated during 2016/17 will be rolled into the following year’s program.

The funding will be available through two streams:
Regional Cooperative Tourism Marketing Program
Regional Tourism Product Development Program

Regional Events Flagship Program
The Regional Flagship Events Program identifies and supports events in regional NSW that have the potential to act as a ‘cornerstone’ or flagship tourism event for their area by attracting overnight visitation and delivering long term benefits to the region.
More information here

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AO

Sapphire Coast and local Oysters on display at ATEC in 2017

ATE 2017 another successful shuck and show

Sapphire Coast Tourism joined Australia's biggest tourism industry event to participate in a range of appointments and networking events.

Once again Sapphire Coast Tourism and Magical Oyster Tours were kindly invited by Visit Canberra to showcase the oysters and experiences of the Sapphire Coast region.

Captain Sponge and his sidekick entertained and fed a throng of international and local tourism industry. ATE is Australia's biggest international industry event running for over 5 days.

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Screen Shot 2017-06-26 at 10.02.30 am

Brand Toolkit to assist YOU

We have just released an Operator Brand Toolkit to assist industry in developing products and experiences which fit with the regions positioning.

The toolkit is a handy guide, but nothing is handier than giving us a call to discuss your ideas and business and where we may help. The toolkit was is available for download here

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2A206698

SCT's Anthony Osborne and Port Authority of NSW's Kell Dillon after signing the extended resource funding agreement

Cruise News

$360k Cruise agreement secures vital operations funding

Sapphire Coast Tourism Executive Officer Anthony Osborne has announced an extended four-year cruise resource funding agreement with Port Authority of NSW.

Significant funds and concrete will be poured into Eden Port in the coming years and SCT has now secured the funding to continue the important work of fully leveraging the investment for Tourism. The $360,000, 4 year, agreement secures operational funding at a crucial time, Mr Osborne said.

"Port Authority of NSW has been critical in getting us to where we are now," he said. They have supported us with important funding over the last two years, and both businesses have a shared vision on how to make the port and region successful.

Mr Osborne said the funding will allow SCT to continue to provide a focused, long term human resource, ensuring the infrastructure opportunity is leveraged on all possible fronts.

"We'll keep working with industry to commercialise shore experiences, integrate cruise opportunities with international and domestic tourism markets and sell the port to cruise companies," he said.

‘’We want to ensure passenger shore experiences remain best practice, and keep growing relationships with wharf users, and that takes resources."

Mr Osborne said Cruise Manager, Natalie Godward, would continue her good work maintaining momentum in shore experience development and selling the port to cruise companies, now with the advantage of a longer term focus.

"Careful and clever management can make this more than just a cruise tourism outcome for the region and this funding agreement allows us to focus on the business of achieving that"

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Beautiful Sapphire Coast

Sapphire Coast Whale Experience comp goes live

A massive all-inclusive competition targeting the Melbourne market has begun with a blaze and includes flights, accommodation and experiences for two groups.

More than 700 entered in the first few days with the first organic social media post reaching over 30,000 Melbournians.

Entrants can win a 5 day experience on the Humpback Highway .

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End of Season Debrief 17.05.17-1

Nat Godward and Debbie Meares debrief on the cruise season past with operators

Cruise Eden end of season de-brief plans the way forward

Forty people attended the Cruise Eden debrief session held at the Eden Recreational Fishermen’s Club in May.
A short presentation summarised the season before the floor was opened up for feedback. Stakeholders from the Eden business community, tour operators, tour guides, bus companies, Bega TAFE, security, volunteers, cruise market stallholders, Bega Valley Shire Council and Crown Lands were in attendance and provided valuable feedback on a range of topics including tours, meet & greet, signage, bus movement, town involvement etc. All feedback has been tabled and will be discussed to better improve cruise operations in Eden this coming season and beyond. We are grateful to all whom attended and welcome any further feedback directly to SCT.

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Screen Shot 2017-06-26 at 10.08.16 am

Singapore bloggers love Sapphire Coast experiences

Two video's shot by bloggers on the road in Singapore are promoting the region in that lucrative market.
The Travel Intern promoted the South Coast road trip on facebook with a video of 80k and counting. Check out video here
Fly Scoots 'urban escape' team also took the road trip and posted a video of experiences online here

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Screen Shot 2017-06-19 at 4.19.15 pm

90k, the new Facebook organic record

Digital Update

Reach Record
A Bermagui video by photographer Andy Hutchison reached 90k punters on Facebook, hitting an all time high for SCT Facebook reach.

20k plus referrals
So far this calendar year there has been over 22,000 web referrals to tourism business listed on Sapphire Coast websites.

Stats June 30 2016 to May 2017
* 20k pageviews
* 299k unique users
*191k social engage
* 2.9m reach on FB

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Instagram

Social Media Tips

Agonising over Instagram?

One key concern that many of attendees of our Social Media 1 on 1 workshop had was "Should I be on Instagram?"

The basic answer is "Yes", even if you post just once a week.

Here are some reasons why:

▪ 61% of travellers use it to make travel decisions when they are in a destination, and 91% of Instagrammers who are travel enthusiasts say it inspires them to visit new places & (Facebook IQ)
▪ Do a Geo search, to see what people are posting about your business, you might be surprised how many there are!
▪ These days, you can automatically share your posts to Facebook which is a real timesaver.
61% of travellers use it to make travel decisions when they are in a destination, and 91% of Instagrammers who are travel enthusiasts say it inspires them to visit new places & (Facebook IQ)
Do a Geo search, to see what people are posting about your business, you might be surprised how many there are!
These days, you can automatically share your posts to Facebook which is a real timesaver.

Facebook help for Industries

Over 1.8 billion people visit Facebook each day.

Advertising can cost as little as $6 a day for around a week, and Facebook makes it really easy for first timers. Read more about it here.

Here's some helpful info and case studies for restauranteurs.

Other helpful Facebook links are Facebook for Business Website and the Facebook for Business Official Facebook Page

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Previous newsletters

If you want catch up on previous newsletters we have an archive on our industry page here

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Must reads and subscribes in 2017

Keep on top of local tourism and digital marketing with these newsletter subscriptions
Visit NSW insights
Tourism Australia News
Think with Google
Tourism Australia Insight Files

Sapphire Coast Tourism Ltd
PO Box 89 Merimbula 2549
02 6495 7031

Media Enquiries
Anthony Osborne
aosborne@sapphirecoast.com.au

Executive Officer
Anthony Osborne
aosborne@sapphirecoast.com.au

Digital and Publicity Coordinator
Sarah Chenhall
schenhall@sapphirecoast.com.au

Industry Coordinator and Cruise Manager
Natalie Godward
natalie@sapphirecoast.com.au

 
 
 
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