A number of Eden projects were high on the agenda at the first ever locally hosted tourism summit last week.
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Around 150 tourism operators and organisations from around South East NSW got together for two days of networking and brainstorming as part of the Tourism Future 14 summit organised by Sapphire Coast Tourism.
Tourism businesses and stakeholders attended from the Bega and Eurobodalla shires, as well as northeast Victoria and Canberra, while peak bodies involved included Tourism Australia, Destination NSW and Visit Canberra.
Upgrades to the Port of Eden were the first item to be discussed at the summit, with 42 local tourism operators attending a Carnival Australia workshop at Robyn’s Nest in Merimbula.
The $15million breakwater wharf extension, set to begin in mid-2015, will allow cruise vessels of up to 260m to dock at the port by the time it is completed in late 2016.
Cruise Eden coordinator Gail Ward said the workshop has already yielded positive results.
“I’ve been told by the in-bound tour operator [Bob Wood Cruise Group] that they’ve picked up four new tours from the workshop,” she said.
“After the workshop for local businesses on Tuesday night, it was absolutely fantastic to get all the local tourism operators together in one place.
“Being a bit remote, it’s often hard for us to attend events like this, so often one person will attend and disseminate all the information.
“When people with Australia-wide experience come to us, everyone can get their own take on it.”
Department of Trade & Investment business development manager Megan Cleary also outlined the path to completion for the $10million Port of Eden Safe Boating Options Study.
Independent consultants Royal Haskoning DHV are currently conducting studies to determine the best use of the funds, and will report back to the Port of Eden Project Control Group on options including construction of a wave attenuator, by the end of 2014.
Tourism and marketing manager from Sapphire Coast Tourism, Anthony Osborne, was instrumental in bringing everyone together.
He said the sold-out dinner at Oaklands Events Centre on Friday night, which catered for 150 guests, proved invaluable.
“It is all about networking and identifying opportunities and making sure that the various bodies are working as one and are aware of what work is being done to drive the tourism economy,” Mr Osborne said.
Bega Valley Shire Mayor Michael Britten, who was part of a Council team that helped organise the summit, called it a “resounding success”.
“It had the highest standards of any tourism conference I’ve been to anywhere, and was a resounding success for everyone,” he said.
“The key now is that everyone follows up on the contacts and networks they formed and keep working to the 2030 vision of doubling our visitor economy.”