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A MESSAGE FROM DESTINATION NSW
A new month – and a new reality.
While there have been many encouraging developments this week – a slowdown in new infections, the bolstering of health service capabilities, and the continuation of positive social distancing behaviours – we cannot be complacent.
Steps toward easing some of the restrictions on day-to-day life in order to reignite the economy are welcome news, and I’m sure our readers are looking forward to reconnecting with family and friends – in safe and well-considered ways.
This week, NSW Health has provided clear advice for businesses about effective controls to protect customers and staff moving forward. It is expected that this will be part of the ‘new normal’ that all industries – including tourism – must adopt and adapt their operations to.
No doubt there will be lots more questions about when, and how, business activity can resume. Australian and NSW Health government authorities will continue to take the lead on this advice, and readers should check COVID-19 websites for offical information.
There have also been many stimulus initiatives announced by Government to support businesses and residents impacted by COVID-19 and we encourage you to take full advantage of those measures.
Destination NSW will continue supporting our industry operators and partners by:
- Contributing to the work of the Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Taskforce
- Providing the latest news and information via Insights
- Adapting our industry resources in line with current conditions; and
- Keeping you updated about our marketing and promotional activities as we move into the next phases of the crisis.
We continue to receive positive feedback about our inspirational social media content — hopefully you are all enjoying our virtual fly-overs and Trivia Tuesdays that showcase everything we love – and you love – about NSW. These are just some of the fun initiatives we have developed to keep travel in NSW front of mind.
If you have questions, please contact us or the Destination Network representatives in your region. If we don’t have the answer for you immediately, we’ll surely track one down.
As always, stay informed and stay safe.
Stephen Mahoney
Acting Chief Executive Officer
ENJOY A PIECE OF NSW AT HOME
Bored at home? Bleary eyed from watching Tiger King – on repeat? Missing our beautiful NSW landscapes, the majestic Sydney skyline or your fix of cuddly creatures? Then check out Destination NSW’s new collection of 18 digital puzzles for a free, mind-soothing distraction.
It’s a fun way to revisit some of your favourite spots or take a trip somewhere new while keeping your mind active in #iso. Piece together an exhilarating swim with seals at Montague Island, a downhill ski at Charlotte Pass, wander among the Living Desert Sculptures in Broken Hill, or soak up the serenity of Yanga National Park (pictured).
All our puzzles are automatically set to 32 pieces. If you’re a puzzle master (or you’d like something a little easier) you can change the number of pieces to suit your mood or skill.
So jump online, go to the Destination NSW puzzle collection try your hand at one of the vibrant NSW puzzles, or maybe do them all!
DIGITAL SPOTLIGHT REMAINS ON NSW
To keep the joy of travel alive when all we can do is dream, creative minds across the state are keeping us entertained and inspired with a steady stream of virtual experiences to enjoy from the safety of home. Check out this selection.
Trundle ABBA Festival: Does Your Mother Know…you’re a massive ABBA fan? Then tomorrow (Saturday 2 May) set your inner Dancing Queen free and enjoy all things f-ABBA-ulous online with performances by local bands, and videos and photo galleries from the 2019 Trundle ABBA Festival from 8pm. See the fashion, hear the tunes and get into the spirit of the 70s and 80s at home.
Festival of the Falling Leaf: This annual event in Tumut has been running since 1954 to celebrate the change of season from summer to autumn. Although the Wynyard Street Parade won’t be on this year, organisers have arranged an online concert by the stars who were scheduled to perform – Golden Guitar winners Lyn Bowtell and Luke O’Shea, and Cooma’s Montgomery Church. The festival concert will be broadcast live via the Falling Leaf Festival Facebook page from 12pm tomorrow, Saturday 2 May.
Subo at Home: For a limited time, one of Newcastle’s finest restaurants is offering the Subo experience in your own home by providing an interactive three-course menu. The new ‘at home’ Subo menu focuses on local and seasonal produce and is available for pick up or home delivery.
Ben Ean Winery: The team at Ben Ean is offering virtual wine tastings via Skype for those who are pining for some of the Hunter Valley’s best winery experiences. Order wine online and you’ll be able to Skype with cellar door staff to take you through your wine of choice.
Destination NSW features innovative businesses and attractions like these in each edition of Insights with the aim of inspiring other tourism operators to develop new and different ways to promote their products and experiences to audiences worldwide.
If your business has a virtual tour or online experience you’d like to share with the thousands of Insights readers please email product@dnsw.com.au.
Alternatively, if you know of other experiences not promoted here, please join the movement and share them on social media using the hashtag #LoveNSW.
Please follow VisitNSW (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and Sydney (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) for holiday inspiration and a showcase of NSW’s best attractions and experiences.
NEW FREE COURSES TO SUPPORT NSW IN PANDEMIC
Thirteen new fee-free TAFE NSW short courses are available online to assist NSW residents upskill during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following an overwhelming response to the initial suite of courses launched earlier in April, the NSW Government will use the new courses to replace those that have reached enrolment capacity. These new courses ensure there is a total 21 accredited courses available for people to study.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said around 85,000 people had enrolled in the fee-free courses since they were announced three weeks ago to assist job seekers and workers.
“The incredible uptake to the initial 21 fee-free short courses shows that while many businesses across NSW are in hibernation there is a strong desire to upskill and gain new qualifications during this challenging time,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The 13 new short courses include:
- Leading Teams
- Digital Security Basics
- Build your Digital Literacy with Coding
- Create a Brand Presentation; and
- Undertaking Projects and Managing Risk.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said more than 33,000 people who enrolled in the fee-free courses were studying at TAFE NSW for the first time.
“The NSW Government is committed to providing opportunities for people to upskill so that they can get the promotion or job they want once this pandemic ends. I encourage everyone to use this time to increase their skills,” Mr Lee said.
Find out more about the fee-free courses at TAFE NSW.
INCREASED SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS EVENTS THROUGH TOURISM AUSTRALIA
With the crippling effect of the current situation on the corporate events and conferencing sector, Business Events Australia has ramped up its Tourism Australia-supported Advance Program, and applications are now open for 2020-21.
The Advance Program is a partnership marketing initiative that provides financial assistance to support marketing and distribution projects aimed at driving business event-related visitation to Australia.
The program gives participants the chance to leverage Tourism Australia’s international marketing and distribution expertise through activities such as:
- Support to secure targeted delegates for specific confirmed events
- Distribution support including strategic famils, or strategy development for international event bids
- Bespoke marketing campaigns or content production
- Digital marketing strategies including social media, dedicated microsites and more.
This year, to support industry recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tourism Australia has revised the program to enhance access to available funding. This includes lowering the minimum project request amount to $10,000 to support smaller projects, offering two rounds of applications per year, and streamlining the application process.
For more information see the Advance Program Prospectus. Applications for round one close on 1 June 2020.
BIG NSW NEWS FOR NATIONAL BANANA DAY
NSW has made a big impression on National Banana Day (today) with two key activities to sate the appetite of banana lovers near and far.
Award-winning NSW chef Matt Moran took local bananas from the everyday to extraordinary on Studio 10 this morning, sharing his recipe for Banoffee Pie.
The segment, coordinated by Destination NSW, celebrated the chef and restaurateur’s love for local produce and highlighted the unique qualities of NSW-grown bananas.
Matt has shared his Banoffee Pie recipe with Destination NSW; try it at home with some of NSW's finest produce.
Meanwhile, in Coffs Harbour – the home of the Big Banana – festivities took a more traditional turn with the return of the good old-fashioned banana roadside stall.
While The Big Banana Fun Park is closed due to current health restrictions, the popular icon has reinstated a community classic to sell farm-fresh bananas, its famous chocolate-coated bananas, dried bananas, banana jams and chutneys, and more.
Every sale until 5pm today will go in the draw to win a family Big Bunch of Fun pass, to be drawn on 4 May
Anyone outside the Coffs Harbour region can join in the National Banana Day bana-nza by guessing how many bananas are on the bunch on The Big Banana’s Facebook page.
DISCOVER AUSTRALIAN WINE WITH UPDATED EDUCATION PROGRAM
Wine Australia has refreshed its free, comprehensive education program Australian Wine Discovered (AWD). There are now 25 topics available online with new resources, updated commentary and advanced notes. Since 2019, the wine education program has received 23,000+ downloads by global wine educators, wineries, retailers, distributors, importers, marketers and wine enthusiasts. The AWD program uses illustration, videos and imagery to explain the world of wine and provide industry with simple, downloadable consumer resources such as tasting mats. From beginner to advanced levels, the program covers Australian varieties, regions, and topical themes including Foundations of Australian wine, Organic and Biodynamic wine and Aged Australian wines. To explore and download the free, updated program, tools and resources, visit Wine Australia.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE MAINTAINS EXCLUSIVE NSW WINE LIST
Her Excellency the Hon Margaret Beazley AC QC, the Governor of NSW, is continuing a proud tradition by committing to only serve wines from NSW at official Government House events. This year’s Government House Sydney wine selection process – where NSW Wine Awards gold and trophy winning wineries are invited to submit suitable wines for tasting – has concluded and the Government House team has already started procuring wines from the successful wineries. Successful suppliers include Angullong, Ballinaclash, Collector Wines, Hungerford Hill, De Bortoli, Lerida Estate, Mount Pleasant, Nugan Estate, Printhie, Tamburlaine Organic Wines and Trentham Estate.
NATIONAL TOURISM RESTART TASKFORCE ESTABLISHED
Australian Chamber – Tourism, the national peak body for tourism organisations, has formed a Tourism Restart Taskforce. The Taskforce will provide advice to industry and Government on the short, medium and long-term priorities to rebuild tourism in Australia. The Taskforce will be Chaired by industry leader, Jeremy Johnson AM, the Immediate Past President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and former CEO of the major regional tourist attraction Sovereign Hill. John Hart, Executive Chair of Australian Chamber — Tourism, said: “Travel, tourism, business events and hospitality have undoubtedly been the hardest hit by the COVID19 crisis. Given they have traditionally been huge job generators, a successful restart will be an integral part of the nation’s economic recovery.” The Chair of the Taskforce, Jeremy Johnson AM, said: “What is required now is a considered and careful plan to restart Australia’s third largest export industry and one of its biggest employers.”
