Mr Constance said Destination Southern NSW will facilitate visitor economy growth at the local level, and represent the region’s tourism industry, all based out of Merimbula.

Destination Southern NSW incorporates the Far South Coast and Snowy Mountains regions.

“More activity across our region means more jobs and boosted local economies and these next steps reaffirm the government’s continued focus to grow rural and regional tourism,” Mr Constance said.

“We look forward to welcoming more visitors to our beautiful region as a result of the new Destination Network structure.

“With tourism and its associated infrastructure about to take off across our whole region we are best placed to facilitate these headquarters, and really spearhead our region to the next level,” he said.

Mayor of Bega Valley Shire Kristy McBain said the council welcomed Destination Southern NSW to the shire, believing it was the best location to drive the visitor economy for the entire region.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said he was delighted to announce the headquarters for Destination Southern NSW, which is the next critical phase in ensuring the Destination Networks (DNs) are up and running.

“Rural and regional tourism plays an important role in growing the NSW economy, contributing nearly $15billion in total overnight and day trip expenditure to our state’s economy and directly employing 85,000 people,” he said.

“The NSW government is committed to accelerating growth in this vitally important industry, and our $43million investment to boosting the way rural and regional areas attract visitor’s cements our perseverance to ensuring our state remains number one.”