The new Destination Country and Outback NSW that takes in Dubbo will be funded to an operational level over four years, NSW tourism minister Stuart Ayres says.
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That’s unlike its predecessor that had a hand-to-mouth financial existence that hampered its efforts, a peak body for business says.
Inland NSW directors made the decision to move the organisation into voluntary administration on March 31, citing an inability to secure grants in time.
At the time Deputy Premier Troy Grant said the move should not trigger "alarm bells or signal a crisis" but was an indication the current tourism model was not working.
On Wednesday Mr Grant was with Mr Ayres at Dubbo as the minister announced the government’s overhaul in response to a review of regional tourism organisations (RTOs) and regional tourism.
The restructure included an investment of $43 million over four years and the creation of six new Destination Networks throughout NSW.
“Importantly every single one of those Destination Networks will be funded to an operational level over four years, meaning they’ll have money in the bank to be able to coordinate the activities of people right across their regions,” Mr Ayres said.
“It means that we’ve got that renewed focus and that we’re not just talking to locals in communities but we’re actually encouraging people from interstate and overseas to visit and experience regional NSW.”
NSW Business Chamber’s Tourism Advisory Council strongly backed the announcement from the minister.
“The current operational framework and funding model underpinning regional tourism in NSW is not working effectively, which is why we are pleased that the government has outlined a clear blueprint of what needs to be done to overcome the current challenges,” tourism advisory council chairman Simon Spellicy said.
The four-year administrative funding agreements with the Destination Networks were cited by the NSW Business Chamber as one of the keys.
“The ability for RTOs to focus on their core role has been curtailed by their hand to mouth financial existence at an administrative level which has also hampered their opportunity to plan long term,” NSW Business Chamber tourism executive manager Dean Gorddard said.
“Each region has different needs in developing tourism, however the current ‘one size fits all’ approach fails to utilise the on the ground expertise of destination marketing practitioners working in the regions.”
On Friday the government began advertising for directors for the boards of the six Destination Networks.
For more information about the roles go to: www.dnsw.com.au/dns-applications