Destination Sydney Surrounds South

This week, we had the pleasure of travelling across the DSSS region with Lachlan Stevens to present our Digital Ecosystem workshops. The rooms were buzzing with energy, and we’re incredibly grateful to Lachie for sharing his wisdom, business tips, and invaluable insights into the world of digital marketing and social media. Participants left equipped with practical tips to enhance their online presence, and we gained so much from the experience as well. A huge thank you to everyone who attended—it was an absolute blast! #visitnsw #feelnsw #digitalmarketing #businessdevelopment #regionalnsw

Exciting news from DSSS! ⭐ We’re hosting a series of FREE Digital Ecosystem Workshops with local digital marketing expert Lachlan Stevens from HisBoyElroy. This is your chance to boost your online game and connect with fellow businesses in the DSSS region! 🚀 🌏 Where are we headed? Join us in: 🔹 Wollongong 🔹 Shellharbour 🔹 Kiama 🔹 Shoalhaven 🔹 Wingecarribee 🤔 What’s in it for you? Over 2 hours, you’ll dive into topics like: 🔹 Social Media Marketing 🔹 Email Marketing 🔹 Influencer Marketing 🔹 Seach Engine Optimisation 🔹 Marketing Automation Plus, there’ll be plenty of interactive elements and Q&A sessions, so you’ll walk away with actionable tips for your business. Here’s the lineup: Wollongong: Tuesday 15th Oct, Headlands Hotel, 9:30am-11:30am ➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/dzj8ch-R Shellharbour: Tuesday 15th Oct, Shellharbour Civic Centre, 1:30pm-3:30pm ➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/d6tcxeH5 Gerringong: Wednesday 16th Oct, The Co-Op, 9:00am-11:00am ➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/dR6jNnyD Ulladulla: Wednesday 16th Oct, Dunn Lewis Centre, 2:00pm-4:00pm ➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/gdjNyp4j Bowral: Thursday 17th Oct, Berida Hotel, 11:00am-1:00pm ➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/dKWjyBPR Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to level up your digital marketing skills! 🏆 Feel free to share this with your friends and networks—everyone's welcome! 🙌

Thank you Destination NSW for an amazing day of insights and connection at the 2024 NSW Visitor Economy Forum. Destination Sydney Surrounds South Chair, Lyndel Gray GAICD and GM, Shannan Perry-Hall joined over 600 people to talk about the industry that provides human connections, essential self-care and has the ability to slow down time. Exciting times ahead for the NSW Visitor Economy!

Transport for NSW is on the lookout for sites in regional areas to host electric vehicle (EV) chargers 🚗⚡ The NSW Government is investing $199 million to expand the EV charging network, and they're inviting regional businesses and councils to register their interest in hosting these chargers. If selected, the EV charging companies will handle everything—installation, operation, and maintenance—all you need to do is provide parking spaces and access. With EV ownership skyrocketing by 83% in the last financial year, having charging options at your site can help attract more customers and enhance your visitor economy presence. EV drivers often plan their trips around charging stops, which means more foot traffic to your door! Interested and want to learn more?  Fill out an obligation-free site host expression of interest form ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gg7k-SuE For more details about the program, feel free to reach out to the NSW Government EV destination charging grants team at destination.charging@environment.nsw.gov.au. 🌍🔋

Exciting news! TAFE NSW has teamed up with Destination NSW to help build a strong and resilient workforce in the Visitor Economy with their newly launched Visitor Economy: 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Microskill. Here’s what the course has lined up: 🔹 Five Video Masterclasses: Dive into fully subsidised one-hour masterclasses, featuring insights from industry experts—available on the TAFE NSW website. 🔹 Updated Certificate III in Tourism: Launching in 2025, this modernised qualification will focus on essential visitor economy skills, complete with contemporary case studies and assessments based on real industry feedback to ensure the qualification meets the current needs of the sector. The best part: TAFE NSW is offering a fee-free 6-week enrollment period. Don’t miss your chance to jump in! Learn more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gXtPDV4a This Microskill initiative is a collaborative effort with Destination NSW, industry partners, and the Department of Education. 🌟 #tafensw #visitoreconomymicroskill

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the departure of Aaron Matis from DSSS. Aaron has bought dedication, enthusiasm and PR prowess to the team. While we will miss his contributions, we are excited for his new journey with Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC). The #visitoreconomy is fortunate to retain such a talented individual. We thank Aaron for his commitment to DSSS and look forward to working with him in his new role.

🌍 Celebrating World Tourism Day 2024! ✨ Every year on September 27th, we come together to celebrate the impact of the visitor economy. This year’s theme, "Tourism and Peace," encourages us to reflect on how our travels unite us, foster understanding, and strengthen communities worldwide. We feel especially grateful to call such a beautiful part of the world our home. Wishing you a Happy World Tourism Day from the DSSS team! 💫 #worldtourismday2024 📸 : Sea Cave, Jervis Bay. Credit: Jordan Robins

🎶 Exciting news for the live music scene in NSW! 🎶 The Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund is here to support established contemporary music festivals that are facing financial challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis. If your festival has a capacity of at least 15,000 attendees, you may be eligible for funding to help with operational and government-related costs. Successful applicants will benefit from two milestone payments: 50% of the approved funds within 30 days of signing the agreement, and the rest after successfully delivering the festival—up to the break-even point. (If ticket sales surpass that, no additional funding will be provided.) This initiative, managed by Create NSW, is all about enhancing festival viability, supporting the music landscape, and boosting confidence in the industry. Let’s keep the music alive! 🎉✨ Find out more and apply ➡ https://lnkd.in/ga4WAns5 Closes 30 April 2025 or when the budget is exhausted —whichever comes first.

Congratulations Huskisson and the team at Shoalhaven City Council for bringing home gold 🥇🏆🎉 Well done Kiama and Berry on being finalists in a very competitive field. Kristy Mayhew and Sally Bursell congratulations on representing the region and NSW on the national stage!

Singapore Airlines has been confirmed as Western Sydney International Airport’s first international carrier. The airport is on schedule to open in late 2026 and will serve as a catalyst for the region’s visitor economy, with capacity to welcome up to 10 million annual passengers a year. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gvVuB9RM Destination NSW is holding a series of Inbound Strategy Workshops in September 2024 to prepare businesses to sell experiences via travel distribution channels to international visitors. A virtual workshop will also be held on 19 September to enable visitor economy businesses from across NSW to take part. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ge8mp7PQ #feelnew #feelnsw #visitoreconomy #destinationnsw