Stand Up Comedy nights, Bangalow Music Festival, Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Regatta, Byron Writers Festival and the latest production from Ballina Players will start at the end of the month.
August is action packed with events!
It's August! Where did July go? Coming up soon on the 13-14th of August is the North Coast Mud Trail to display the very talented local artisans of our area.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Ballina Coast and Hinterland will be featured in a six week long digital marketing campaign as part of the larger 'Feel New' tourism campaign by Destination NSW.
Destination NSW has just announced two new directors one of which being in the Northern Rivers area. Find an extract of their announcement below:
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has established a webpage to keep the community informed of flood recovery progress in our North Coast National Parks.
The NSW Government has reviewed and updated the Draft North Coast Regional Plan 2041.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Do you have video footage or clips of your business? Share it with the Ballina Tourism Team!
Using your content, we hope to showcase places to eat, sites to visit, tours to enjoy and places to stay through social media reels. We will tag your business if we use any of your supplied footage.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
This year's North Coast Tourism Sympousium is fast approaching with an exciting line-up of world-class speakers
2021 Census results provided an insight into the changing profile of Australian families.
Last week the release of the
Anyone whose certification expired from February 2020 can renew their RSA, or RSA and RCG together, for free, until February 2023 without having to retrain in full.
Northern Rivers Food will again be bringing us the highly anticipated Harvest Food Trail - a very special self-drive experience over the weekend of July 30-31 2022.
One of the most highly anticipated junior surfing hit the shores of Lennox Head last week!
Don't forgret to purchase tickets for the North Coast Tourism Symposium being held in Grafton on Thursday 28 July 2022.
The Australian Visitor Centres - Explore Australia App makes your journey easier. The detailed maps are available online and offline, they show locations of other Points of Interest, including accommodation, campgrounds, food and drinks, attractions, wineries, local deals, road warnings and much more.
Destination Byron's Annual Tourism Symposium is back after restrictions saw the 2020 and 2021 events cancelled. Scheduled for 29 June 2022, Elements of Byron will welcome local and national visitor and tourism industry leaders, stakeholders, and attendees.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Ballina Shire businesses are encouraged to complete the Regional NSW Business Survey to identify key priorities for supporting job creation and economic growth in our region.
Event managers, community groups and businesses interested in organising events are encouraged to apply now for a share of $360,000 available under the NSW Governments Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Destination NSW has created an extensive resource for tourism operators. Develop great tourism experiences,
Destination North Coast (DNC) and Stafford Strategy will be conducting 2hr workshops outlining regional visitor forecasts to 2030 and perceived existing product gaps to support future new investment in the
Destination NSW has partnered with Tourism Tribe to offer this fully funded Digital Skills Accelerator for Tourism program to assist NSW tourism businesses, including accommodation, tours and attractions to digitally transform their marketing.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
The last opportunity to provide input on how we can best develop and grow the value of the tourism sector across the North Coast is via the below online workshop and short stakeholder survey.
Find out how to get involved with the campaign to maximize your involvement in the event! + still time to register
What many may know as the Lighthouse Beach Cafe is now Capiche - newly refurbished, new owners, new cuisine and already GREAT reviews!
After 9 years working as the Ballina Visitor Centre Team Leader, Alicia is moving on from council.
Most operators would have had the pleasure of working with Alicia over that time and I am sure will remember her for being energetic, patient and well organised. Her knowledge of the industry and passion for tourism was inspiring.
The North Coast Destination Management Plan (DMP) review session is being held in Ballina next Tuesday 3 May, 2022 so to have your say about the future of tourism in the North Coast it is important you come along.
Destination North Coast is calling on food, beverage and agri-tourism business to plan and deliver food related events, experiences and special deals as part of the North Coast Festival of Flavour 3-5 June 2022. This is a fantastic opportunity for the North Coast to strengthen its reputation as an emerging foodie destination.
Promote your business to visitors arriving through the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport in the current DL brochure advertising cycle. Located within the arrivals terminal at the Airport, the brochure board is restocked by volunteer tourism ambassadors.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Tourism Australia has announced a $12 Million content creation initiative aimed at supporting tourism businesses across Australia in recovery and driving increased visitation by helping operators better market their experiences and attractions.
Destination North Coast wants to hear from local tourism operators, event organisers, local government and industry stakeholders to gather input and plan for the future of tourism and the visitor economy in our region to 2030 as they review the North Coast Destination Management Plan (DMP).
Destination North Coast recently announced a change of date for the North Coast Festival of Flavour to the 3 to5 June 2022, so it's not too late to get involved!
Visitors will taste the very best of the North Coast at farm gates, markets, breweries and more. Get involved by planning a foodie event or special deal at your place of
Tourism Australia (TA) has announced adopting a dual-naming approach for capital cities and other specific locations around Australia by using the known Aboriginal name alongside the English name.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
What's On calendar or download the PDF - there is something for all age groups.
Easter is generally a busy time around the Northern Rivers with lots of visiting family and friends. Keep the kids entertained by checking out activities that are happening over the holiday period on the
Destination NSW is holding a series of Aboriginal Tourism Experience Development Workshops in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC).
Want to know when the annual events are being held this year?
Make sure to download our Annual Events Guide for a full look at what events are happening around the Northern Rivers and the dates they will be on.
The Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment has launched THRIVE 2030, the long-term national strategy for the visitor economy. THRIVE 2030 is expected to grow the value of the visitor economy to $230 billion by 2030.
The Business Connect program is a contemporary, high-quality support service for small businesses in NSW. The Business Connect program comprises one-on-one business advisory sessions during which your Business Advisor will work with you on your goals. â
BizRebuild is a business-led initiative, developed by the Business Council of Australia, to provide practical and on the ground assistance to small and local businesses left devastated by the bushfires and floods.
BizRebuild is offering vouchers to help small businesses affected by the March 2022 storms and floods, in eligible NSW and QLD local government areas.
The Ballina Tourism Team aim to drive demand for tour and activity operators by encouraging Australians to donate experience gift vouchers for Northern Rivers flood affected people. These gift vouchers would enable flood affected people to take a break and enjoy an experience.
Applications have opened for the NSW Governmentâs Small Business Support Program, which provides financial assistance for small businesses hit hard by the disruption caused by the wave of Omicron cases.
Tourism operators are invited to participate in a free online webinar to elevate your business's online reputation.
While our region starts on the road to recovery from the tragic floods, our hearts go out to our friends and neighbours who have lost so much.
Due to the Northern Rivers region being in disaster recovery mode, Destination North Coast has made the decision to postpone the Festival of Flavours event until late May or early June 2022.
The Ballina Flood Recovery Centre is now open and located at Ballina Surf Club, Lighthouse Parade, East Ballina.
Open from 9.00am to 5pm (7 days for first week), the Recovery Centre provides face-to-face support for Ballina Shire.
Disaster recovery assistance is available to businesses in eligible NSW local government areas that have been impacted by storms and floods. If your business premises has been damaged due to storms and flooding then visit Service NSW to see what funding and grants you are eligible for.
For more information or to find out if your are eligible click here
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the
Businesses can now apply to the NSW Government's Small Business Support Program. If youâre a business, sole trader or not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you've been impacted by the Omicron wave of COVID-19, you may be eligible for a payment under the 2022 Small Business Support Program.
Ballina Coast and Hinterland business event suppliers were represented at the Get Local Expo, held at the Sydney International Convention Centre on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 February 2022.
Ballina Shire Council is seeking your feedback in regards to the shire's playgrounds.
The NSW Government has announced a small business rebate for NSW sole traders and small businesses to purchase safety equipment.
The NSW government has recently announced accommodation, recreation and entertainment vouchers to the value of $50 for NSW residents. To be eligible to receive these vouchers businesses must apply to the Stay NSW program via service NSW. Participants must have a business located in NSW and have an associated Australian business number.
North Coast Festival of Flavour marketing campaign is now live in market!
The six figure
Ballina Coast and Hinterland will represent business event suppliers at the Get Local Expo, held at the Sydney International Convention Centre on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 February 2022.
Businesses can now apply for Round Two of the NSW Governmentâs $140 million Regional Job Creation Fund, which is set to create at least 2000 new jobs in regional NSW over a three-year period.
The Australian Government has opened the Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism (CHART) program, a $3 million funding program that aims to support Aboriginal cultural centres, community museums, galleries, and historical societies in regional Australia as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
Eligible accommodation providers across the state can register to take part in two new NSW Government voucher programs - Parents NSW and Stay NSW.
Online travel planning is one of the fast growing uses of the internet, with a high proportion of consumers booking accommodation and tours online. Consumers now expect to be able to book and pay for travel products instantly, at the click of a mouse.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theIn what many business operators had hoped would be their busiest time of trade all year, has been dramatically impacted by Omicron. The NSW Government is offering a financial support package.
The upcoming NSW Tourism Awards will celebrate the outstanding strength, resilience and achievements of the tourism industry in a virtual ceremony on Thursday 3 February 2022.
There are a wide range of development opportunities available but here is a curated selection of must do free visitor economy development opportunities. Register NOW and add these important dates to your calendar.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theThe Ballina Visitor Information Centre is a wonderful resource for visitors - inspiring them to see and do more and stay longer than they had initially planned.
Promote your business to visitors arriving through the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport with a rare opportunity in the upcoming DL brochure advertising cycle. Located within the arrivals terminal at the Airport, the brochure board is restocked by volunteer tourism ambassadors.
North Coast Festival of Flavour over the weekend of 26 and 27 March 2022
Calling farmers, producers, restauranteurs, brewers, distillers, and foodie event managers to get involved with the fabulousWith businesses confronting the worst labour and skill shortages in more than three decades, the Prime Minister has announced a rebate program to visa application fees. The program aims to encourage international students and working holiday makers to return to Australia and plug acute shortages across industry.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theAs Queensland reaches 90% vaccination status, the State Government has advised border controls will be removed for domestic air and road travel.
Destination North Coast has a wide range of development opportunities to engage in. Add these important dates to your calendar.
School Holiday Activity Sheet and be sure to share the What's On Calendar with your guests this summer.
Download copies of the
The management of NSW marine parks directly impacts the health, sustainability and economic viability of the local environment and operators who work within it.
There is now financial support of up to $750 if you are required to isolate due to COVID-19. The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is a lump sum to help cover lost income while infected/or caring for someone infected with COVID-19.
As the team at Destination North Coast (DNC) return to their desks to start the 2022 work year, they are very aware of the ongoing upheaval and uncertainty brought about by the current business and COVID-19 environment.
Ballina Shire Council is happy to announce Airport Boulevard is now open! This new connection road links Boeing Avenue and North Creek Road to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, and is an impressive entrance to the airport.
Have the shared paths and cycleways changed your life for the better? Then we would love to hear from you!
Australiaâs largest trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), will adopt a hybrid format in 2022, providing in-person and virtual components to ensure the tourism industry can meet, exchange knowledge, and establish important business connections.
A study by Tourism Research Australia revealed three of four people living with disability regularly travel, spending about $3.2 billion each year. And it also showed more would travel if products or technologies were available to support them.
Destination NSW is offering grants of up to $30,000 to attract, create and support business events for regional NSW, and toâ¯motivateâ¯business event owners to incorporate regional NSW in their plans.
It's that time of year again! From the staff at the Ballina Visitor Information Centre we would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
Are you opening on Christmas Day or New Year's Day? Please inform the Ballina Visitor Information Centre of your trading hours so we can share this with visitors and also list you on the directory page as being open.
Receive the gift of giving this festive season and help a small homegrown producer while you are at it by shopping locally at the Ballina Visitor Information Centre.
Critical skills shortages in the visitor economy are being addressed by the NSW Government, which is offering thousands of free training places across the state.
What three things do you like most about living in Ballina Shire? What would make our shire even better in the next 10 years? These may be simple questions, but your answers are very important!
The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport has introduced new traffic arrangements due to the current upgrade works.
As the state of NSW opens up and people start making plans for the upcoming holiday season, make sure your customers know about your terms and conditions (T&Cs) before they book.
The Domestic Tourism Forecasts report 2021-22 to 2025-26 is now published. The report documents how the domestic tourism industry is expected to recover from the pandemic-induced downturn.
We are actively encouraging visitors to the region to use the hashtag #discoverballina so we can share the amazing pictures on our social media pages.
We are very excited to introduce new operators in the Ballina Shire:
Are you a Food & Beverage Operator? Then you need to read this!
Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan released for consultation a proposed strategy to rebuild and reimagine Australia's visitor economy.
Join in on a series of three on-demand Destination NSW Sell Online webinars for tourism businesses to find out how to increase bookings through online sales â both direct and indirect â by using online booking software, creating effective ATDW-Online listings, and working with online travel agents (OTAs) to grow online visibility.
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre has the pleasure of introducing accommodation providers to Robin, Chief Cyclist and his company E-Bike 2U, an e-bike rental company in the Northern Rivers area, including Ballina Coast and Hinterland. They deliver and pick-up e-bikes to and from accommodation providers like yourself.
Projects to help regional communities bounce back from the impacts of border restrictions will roll out across the State borders under a $10 million COVID Recovery round of the Cross-Border Commissionerâs Infrastructure Fund.
Council has started work to develop a new 10 year plan for our community's future, but we need your help! We are asking the community to provide feedback through a short online survey. Your feedback will help us get an insight into the community's vision and goals for the future.
A kids Christmas tree has been installed at Freeborn Park in Main Street,Alstonville next to Santaâs letterbox and is festooned with lights.
Do you want to promote your business to visitors arriving through the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport? Now is your chance! The upcoming advertising cycle for the DL brochure board, located within the arrivals terminal at the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is fast approaching. The cycle runs for the busy summer season until 28 Feburary 2022.
Get your event applications in now as applications for the Incubator Event stream and the Flagship Event stream of the 2022 Regional Event Fund will close at midnight on Sunday 5 December 2021. Applications submitted after this date and time are not eligible for assessment and will not be accepted.
The Morrison Government has announced that Switzerland will become the 45th country to have access to Australiaâs Working Holiday Maker program from 1 January 2022. Young people from Switzerland, aged between 18 and 30, can apply to stay in Australia for one year while undertaking short-term work and study.
Is your team becoming frustrated with the lack of respect shown from certain customers? Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC) has launched the HumanKIND initiative calling on customers to be patient with operators who may be experiencing staff shortages and other challenges after a tough year.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the
The NSW Regional Business Event Development Fund is designed to help stakeholders create, attract and support exciting business events for regional NSW and to support new business event initiatives. The Fund aims to enrich these business events with opportunities offered by iconic towns and regions, while helping secure successful conferences and events for their future.
Experience Development Fund is now open.
Destination NSW is pleased to advise that theWhat's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theThe Ballina Byron Gateway Airport has now added QANTAS direct flights from Melbourne to the already impressive number flights from across the country.
National Online Jobs Fair for the Hospitality & Tourism sectors; 1.00pm - 5.00pm Thursday 25th November 2021.
The Australian Federal Government is delivering a freeThe Commonwealth Government has launched a $5 million Regional Arts Fund Cultural Tourism Accelerator program to develop and promote arts and cultural events for tourists across regional Australia.
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre is looking to create a fortnightly post across our social media channels to help our local operators get the word out about avaliable job oppotunities.
The Northern Rivers Tourism and Hospitality Forum will be held at the Ballina RSL on 22 November 2021. The session will provide a range of updates on projects delivering skilled workers for industry, how to tap into a pool of keen young workers for your business and an interactive campaign co-design session to develop a creative brief to support attracting people into the hospitality sector.
Applications for the Destination North Coast Business Accelerator & Mentoring Program close this Friday 12 November 2021. This Program is FREE to North Coast tourism businesses offering up to 7 hours of one-on-one business mentoring support.
Residents and visitors are being urged to arrive early at the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport to avoid the inconvenience of traffic delays and parking changes.
Car parking is reduced and changed traffic conditions are in place while the airport carpark is being upgraded.
The NSW Government will invest more than $8 million in a suite of grant programs to accelerate the recovery of the NSW visitor economy as the state reopens to visitors. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney and Minister for Trade and Industry Stuart Ayres said the funding would be a significant boost to the visitor economy as travel restrictions lifted.
Expand your knowledge of the local tourism industry, meet like minded people, and share your love of the local area by becoming a volunteer tourism ambassador.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theThe NSW Government and Destination NSW has launched a new tourism campaign to make visitors feel new.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theDestination North Coast is pleased to partner with industry to develop the North Coast Festival of Flavours across the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March 2022.
Tourism Research Australia (TRA) has published the National Visitor Survey year ending 30 June 2021. Data shows that domestic overnight visitors increased eight percent (8%) on the previous year.
Holiday home providers - who have no other development approvals to operate - have been reminded to register if they want to rent out their properties once regional travel is permitted from Monday 1 November 2021.
Do you know an unsung hero who deserves recognition? Show your appreciation by nominating them for the 2022 Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards!
A reminder that the NSW Government still has $20 Million in grant funding for Regional Events Acceleration to bring back the social calendar in regional NSW.
Are you hosting a Festival or Event in the Ballina Shire? Did you know that each financial year Ballina Shire Council offer a Festival and Events Sponsorship Program and the 2022/23 financial year applications are now open.
The NSW Government has unveiled a new tourism campaign to entice visitors to the state and re-energise them to feel new.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theAre you hosting a Christmas Day lunch or event?
Submit the details (ie where, cost, inclusions and booking details) to Discover Ballina to help us promote your function. It is FREE and EASY to submit.
Click HERE to submit online or email the details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Expression of Interest (EOI) applications are open to tourism businesses on the North Coast to participate in the Destination North Coast Business Accelerator & Mentoring Program.
Destination North Coast is excited to announce thatThe Ballina Visitor Information Centre is creating a 2022 Ballina Coast and Hinterland scenic calendar. If you have any great digital images you would like to see featured, please send them our way.
Join presenters from Facebook and the Destination NSW Social Media team in this free online webinar to hear how you can capture compelling images and videos for social media on your phone.
Building an inspiring brand is key to rebuilding the NSW visitor economy and its resilience. The first in more than a decade, the campaign is designed to deliver growth in visitor nights and spend and accelerate our trajectory to becoming the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theThe Business Connect expert panel has recorded the live webinar from last week to interpret information and share their expertise in this space as the Public Health Orders are implemented against COVID-19 recovery milestones.
VILLA RUSTICA CERAMICS
We had the pleasure of meeting Greg this month - a local ceramic artist who many may already know.
The Ballina Tourism Team is keen to understand your business performance and confidence levels moving forward.
Could you please complete the Tourism Business Confidence Survey here
NSW residents will have two more reasons to celebrate catching up with friends and family this summer with additional Dine & Discover vouchers becoming available.
Don't Miss Out! This exciting program is fully funded by the Australian Government and Destination North Coast (DNC) will offer up to seven hours of one-on-one business mentoring to support advancement and growth of tourism businesses.
Small businesses can apply to receive free advice on employee pay and entitlement issues, including those that relate to vaccination, through the FairWork Ombudsmanâs Employer Advisory Service (EAS).
The Business Connect expert panel joins us live to interpret information and share their expertise in this space as the Public Health Orders are implemented against COVID-19 recovery milestones.
NSW Government has developed a toolkit with signs, posters and stickers in this toolkit provide, our colleagues and our community reminders of accepted behaviours and new standards of etiquette that will help protect everyone and stop the spread of COVID-19.
To fulfil our obligation under the NSW Public Health Order, entry conditions to several Council facilities will temporarily change from Monday 11 October to Tuesday 30 November 2021.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theHotels and accommodation providers across the State who experienced cancellations as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, can now access additional financial support, thanks to the Accommodation Support Grant going live.
Join presenters from Facebook and the Destination NSW Social Media team to find out how to use the Stories feature on Instagram and Facebook to engage potential visitors.
Australiaâs largest Mobile Wildlife Hospital has a permanent new home at the Macadamia Castle in Byron Bayâs hinterland, which has been sold to conservation group Wildlife Recovery Australia.
Destination North Coast is excited to announce we are in the process of creating and launching a 'virtual' North Coast Food & Beverage Trail, the North Coast Flavour Trails.
The NSW Government has opened nominations to identify and protect Areas of Outstanding Biodiversity Value (AOBVs) on both private and public lands across New South Wales.
Communities across NSW will benefit from new and improved cultural infrastructure thanks to $60 million available through the NSW Governmentâs Creative Capital program.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theFestival and Event Sponsorship Program will open on Friday 24 September 2021.
Ballina Shire Council is pleased to announce the 2022/2023
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - including weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours
Destination North Coast is host an Unpacking COVID Funding & Government Support Industry Webinar for Tourism Businesses.
A few weeks ago Ballina Coast and Hinterland published Emergency Management Planning tools from Business Australia. To assist you in protecting your tourism business from the impacts of bushfires and other natural disasters Destination NSW has published three new Quick Tips guides.
Every school holidays the Ballina Visitor Information Centre put together a School Holiday Activity Sheet to help families entertain the kids while they are on holidays. Keep your visitors and customers up to date of local activities and events by downloading a copy or visiting the Whats On calendar.
Expressions of
interest are now open for live music venues across NSW to be part of Great Southern Nights.Meet in Regional NSW website!
Meet in Regional NSW offers suppliers a free platform to connect with business event planners. Register now for your free listing of products and services relating to the conference industry in regional NSW on theDoes your business have an Emergency Management Plan or Business Continuity Plan in place for crises such as pandemics, bushfires, floods and other disasters?
Lockdown has been hard on many businesses. Having to close your doors or not be able to operate like normal is certainly taking its toll. On the flip side, some businesses have had to think outside the box, create new products or ways to service their clients unlike how they normally would.
Ballina Shire Council offers a range of community event signage locations where Festival and Event Organisers can promote special events. The Community Event Signage Policy is currently on review.
The Office of the Arts are pleased to announce that Round 13 of the Festivals Australia funding program is now open for applications for projects commencing from 1 February 2022.
Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) is hosting a webinar on Wednesday 8 September to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the industry.
The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is set to receive 100 extra parking spots.
Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from Northern Rivers Ngangbul artists to design and develop a series of public artworks within the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport precinct.
Tourism Research Australia (TRA) has published the 2020 Tourism Region Profiles. The Tourism Region Profiles provide comprehensive tourism demand and supply data for 77 of Australia's tourism regions.
R U OK? Day is this Thursday 9 September and this year's theme message is 'Are they really OK? Ask them today.'
The NSW Government will provide financial assistance, support measures and tax relief to help businesses and people across the state impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions.
North Coast Digital Refresh Grant Program offers just that and applications are open now!
Do you want to refresh your existing website, build a new one or enhance digital capacity? TheTourism Australia page @australia has amassed over five million followers on Instagram, making it the most followed national destination page in the world.
The officialHave you found yourself with some additional time on your hands due to the lockdown? Then why not use that time to do some lockdown learning. Upskill with a fee-free* online short course, places are limited.
Want to learn how to improve your Facebook & Instagram presence for free?
Tourism businesses can join a series of five free webinars, featuring presenters from Facebook and the Destination NSW social media team.
Upskill During Lockdown with Free Virtual Hospitality Short Courses
Destination NSW has partnered with Restaurant and Catering Australia to deliver three, free online short courses, known as micro credentials, for NSW tourism and hospitality businesses.
The NSW Dine and Discover program has been extended and vouchers can now be used until 30 June 2022 to support local businesses.
To answer an increasing demand for information on dog friendly activities, venues and accommodation in the region, the Ballina Tourism Team is putting together a brochure for visitors who are travelling/ planning to travel to the area with dogs.
If your business caters for pets or offers any pet friendly experiences, let us know! Email the details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Sunday 15 August 2021.
The Federal and State Governments are releasing more grants and funding to help local businesses grow and create more jobs.
NSW Government is delivering three online sessions to help small businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 find the support they need.
What's On calendar This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - including weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theMake sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
Now is the time to support and promote our amazing local tourism businesses!
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre is reaching out to local tourism operators to make the most of the downtime that COVID is creating and prepare for busier times ahead.
Sydney Weekender are seeking story content and have reached out to the Ballina Tourism Team seeking expression of interest from local operators to participate with a story. Use the story content for your own promotional purposes.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - including weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theMake sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
The NSW Government 2021 support package is designed to help businesses in the visitor economy withstand the challenges of the most recent lockdown and restrictions. The support package includes a number of different grants and payments so make sure you visit the website here to check your eligibility and apply.
Don't Miss Out! This exciting program is fully funded by the Australian Government and Destination North Coast (DNC) will offer up to seven hours of one-on-one business mentoring to support advancement and growth of tourism businesses.
Eligible NSW businesses, sole traders and not-for-profit organisations can apply for up to $15,000 from the first of the NSW Governmentâs economic support packages: The 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The Australian Tourism Awards and NSW Tourism Awards have always celebrated the hard work and dedication needed to create quality tourism experiences. Considering the past couple of years we think this holds deeper meaning
The NSW Government is providing targeted support for the state's accommodation sector to ease the pain of lost bookings over the winter school holiday period.
The Ballina Tourism Team is keen to understand how the current public health order restrictions are impacting your tourism business.
Could you please complete the Tourism Industry Sentiment Survey here
Due to the developing COVID situation in Greater Sydney and extension of restrictions across all of NSW, the decision has been made to move our Business Accelerator & Mentoring Program Launch Events online.
I
s your business the best in the Ballina Shire? Then let us know!The deadline for submissions has been extended to Tuesday 20 July at 10:00am
Make sure you keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
Ballina Shire Council received funding through the NSW Governmentâs Streets as Shared Spaces program to pilot temporary traffic calming and streetscape features that aim to improve safety and amenity in and around Park Lane, Lennox Head.
We are excited to share that the Ballina Visitor Information Centre is now stocking the Australian Adventure Passports with our very own signature prawn stamp! The passports have been created to collect stamps Australia wide documenting travels and creating special memories along the way.
Do you need some ideas or advice on how to market or enhance your current tourism product or experience? Are you stuck in an area of your business and need some help moving forward? If you answered YES to either of these questions then you MUST apply for the Destination North Coast Business Accelerator and Mentoring Program.
Running a tourism business in COVID-affected circumstances can be stressful and may come with mental health challenges. Programs exist to support you to create a mentally safe workplace and find resources to support you and your employees.
It's NAIDOC week! This year's theme is Heal Country, heal our nation. Unfortunately COVID public health order restrictions has meant that Jali Aboriginal Land Council has had to cancel their scheduled NAIDOC week activities. We invite you to still get involved in the NAIDOC celebrations in a COVID safe manner such as listening to stories being shared across local and national radio stations or flying the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island flags.
The Australian Regional Tourism (ART) Convention is a must-attend event for local councils, regional tourism organisations, tourism professionals, business and government personnel who wish to contribute to the future of regional tourism in Australia.
Destination NSW is actively supporting businesses in a variety of ways at this challenging time and is working to keep NSW top of mind for future visitors through ongoing daily media outreach.
announced a major new grants package and changes to the Dine & Discover program to help tens of thousands of small businesses and people across NSW impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions.
The NSW GovernmentThe Ballina tourism team encourages you to take a few moments and visit the refreshed Destination NSW webpage with a series of Tips & Tutorials. We encourage your business to explore the NSW First Quick Tips Guides and Tutorials created to provide ideas about staying connected with travellers, media and distribution partners, and opportunities to develop new areas of business.
As we welcome in the winter school holidays we are again faced with new COVID restrictions. Still, there is a lot to look forward to over the next few weeks and we hope our visitors enjoy everything on offer.
We have a couple of new businesses that have opened up so pop in and say hello to them.
Nominations are now open for the Ballina Business Excellence Awards. The awards will feature 15 categories and are a great way to celebrate all the achievements of your organisation as well as the people who make them happen.
Every school holidays the Ballina Visitor Information Centre put together a School Holiday Activity Sheet to help families entertain the kids while they are on holidays. Keep your visitors and customers up to date of local activities and events by downloading a copy or visiting the Whats On calendar.
We know industry members appreciate a heads up about large sporting events happening within the region. This September the Lismore Workers Master Games will be held over the weekend of the 24- 26 September and is one of Australia's biggest regional games with 15 sports on offer.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay. Or encourage them to stay longer in the destination.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
It is even easier for you to navigate through the NSW First Program and find relevant resources for your tourism business. The webpages have been redesigned on the Destination NSW corporate website with the addition of three new pages: Develop, Promote and Sell. This fresh design curates and organises more than 50 resources for tourism businesses to access in a user-friendly way.
With almost 30 tourism award categories to capture the range of services you offer, including two brand new awards for emerging talent and local government, thereâs something for all operators at this yearâs NSW Tourism Awards.
Destination NSW and Meeting and Events Australia (MEA) have collaborated to offer scholarships to people in regional NSW to undertake a Diploma of Event Management.
July 2021. Please encourage NSW guests to utilise their vouchers at one of the local participating businesses.
The NSW Dine and Discover vouchers have been extended by one month, now expiring on the 31What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theMake sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
Destination NSW is holding a series of Aboriginal Tourism Experience Development Workshops in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC).
Local foodservice businesses, such as restaurants and cafes are being asked to make use of their end-of-day surplus food to help feed people rather than depositing to landfill.
The initiative launched by Foodbank, Australiaâs largest food relief organisation, and Y Waste, the discounted meals app, makes it easy for businesses to put surplus food to good use.
Destination North Coast has secured significant funding as part of the Australian Government's Recovery For Regional Tourism Fund to deliver a new dedicated North Coast Tourism Business Accelerator and Mentoring Program to be rolled out from June 2021.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theMake sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theDestination North Coast is pleased to announce the return of the North Coast Tourism Symposium and Awards Gala Dinner 2021! This year the Events will be co-hosted by Bellingen Shire Council and held at Urunga on Thursday 24th June.
Ballina Shire Council is seeking community feedback on the Northern Rivers Community Gallery's (NRCG) draft Creative Action Plan.
Now is the time to have your say on the future of the Australian travel economy and how looking forward, we can work to strengthen the sector.
Locals have long understood the beauty of Ballina, but now holidaymakers are gaining a newfound appreciation for our slice of paradise. Ballina has been announced as a finalist for the inaugural Top Tourism Town Awards for NSW, along with 15 other ambitious towns from across the state in the âTowns with a population of over 5000 residentsâ category.
Tourism Australia has put the Big Prawn on the map alongside some spectacular Australian scenery in their latest video encouraging Australians to make the most of the amazing diversity our country has to offer.
Ballina Shire Council has been successful in securing $995,905 in funding under the NSW governmentâs Your High Street grant program. The funding received from this grant will enable completion of priority works identified in the Lennox Village Vision concept plan for Ballina Street, in time for Lennox Headâs centenary celebrations scheduled for December 2022.
The program being piloted in the Upper Hunter region will offer jobseekers free hospitality training and the opportunity to reskill for a job in a club. With registered clubs hiring over 43,000 people regional communities often benefit greatly from the opportunities of employment closer to home.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the
The NSW government's Dine and Discover voucher scheme is designed to boost economic spending and help businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Tourism businesses, councils and local tourism organisations can now apply for funding to undertake marketing activities that promote visitor experiences, attractions, tours and accommodation.
Do you need maps to help service your visitors? Just a reminder that we have a range of maps that you can download from the Tourism Destination Website that include CBD maps of Ballina, Lennox Head, Alstonville & Wollongbar, rural road maps and a region map.
To view the maps available and print copies visit Ballina Shire Towns & Village Maps
Ballina Shire Council is making an application to the Destination NSW Tourism Industry Marketing Support Grants Program and asks for your collaboration in the form of a Letter of Support. The tactical marketing campaign will drive actual visitation for the Ballina Coast and Hinterland over the winter and spring of 2021.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
$1.5 million is now available to business event organisers to host conferences, conventions, training courses, trade shows and exhibitions in regional NSW to give the state's visitor economy a significant boost.
Ballina Visitor Information Centre is very proud to sponsor the Northern Rivers Food Harvest Trail which is kicking off this weekend. The 1st & 2nd of May are going to be packed full of amazing events, workshops and dining experiences that will showcase some of the amazing producers around the region. There are trail maps and timetables available at the Ballina Visitors Centre and we encourage visitors to create an itinerary and pre-book to avoid disappointment. Check out the website here.
Small businesses are encouraged to sign up online for a new $1,500 rebate scheme to help cover the cost of NSW and local government fees and charges. It is available from 1 April 2021 until 30 June 2022, for eligible fees and charges due and paid from 1 March 2021.
With this year's Easter school holidays coming to an end we can reflect on what was a bit of a bumpy start to the season, with the cancelation of Bluesfest and the introduction of new COVID restrictions. It was a great relief to see no further community transmissions and the restrictions lifted after the Easter long weekend. With a sense of normalcy returning again we can look forward to the next fortnight and there are some exciting events coming up!
Autumn has well and truly arrived and we are all enjoying the cool nights, crisp mornings, offshore winds and clear sunny days!! There's plenty happening around the region over the next few weeks.
Over the coming months small business owners and those who support them in the Tourism industry can join online wellbeing workshops and training and contribute to the development of new resources and supports on Ahead for Business.
Due to the recent devasting floods in some parts of NSW, Destination North Coast is pleased to advise the extension of the Tourism Product Development Fund, for applicants from flood affected areas. These applicants have until 9 am on 19 April 2021 to submit.
The Ballina Business Events website has some fantastic new images that tourism stakeholders are able to access and use to promote their business.
Virgin Australia will introduce direct flights from Melbourne to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport over the Easter holidays, adding up to six return services per week from 29 March 2021 until 25 April 2021.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the
Surf patrols are recommencing on local beaches for the Easter period. Please refer your guests and visitors to a patrolled beach when making recommendations.
For more information on surf patrol times please see the table below:
The NSW Government's dine and discover program has now been rolled out in the Ballina Shire and eligible businesses are being encouraged to sign up.
The hot cross buns are in the shops, chocolate bunnies are on the shelves which means Easter School Holidays are around the corner and the Northern Rivers will be brimming with visitors and local families enjoying our region.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theMake sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guest rooms or hand to them at check in.
The Australian Government announced a $1.2 billion support package for Australias travel, tourism and aviation sectors.
More farms across regional NSW will be able to open their gates to visitors and diversify their businesses under proposed changes to the planning system as part of COVID-19 recovery measures.
Destination NSW has launched a new Media Centre to support every professional publishing and content creation need and from today, media and content creators can discover more than 30,000 images, videos, B-roll, press releases and editorial-ready content about Sydney and New South Wales.
Are you a food & beverage producer and interested in opening up your premises to trial new ventures? If yes, then this workshop is a must!
Grants of up to $30,000 are now available for the NSW regional business events sector, thanks to a NSW Government funding boost which aims to turbocharge local economies and create more jobs.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the
To support the social and economic recovery of our regions, the NSW Governmentâs $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund helps organisations to:
- attract new major international and domestic events to regional areas
- make existing regional events even bigger and better.
Do you need more copies of the Northern Rivers Visitor Guide to display at your business? Pop in to the Ballina Visitor Information Centre located at 6 River Street and pick up a box, handful or however many you require so your visitors can be inspired to explore the region.
TAFE NSW has two new specific courses they are offering for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
what's on calendar or downloading your copy of the fortnightly what's on sheet.
Keep up to date with community activities, markets and special events by regularly checking theIf you have something you would like to add please don't hesitate to contact a member of the Ballina Tourism Team - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 1800 777 666.
Destination NSW is pleased to advise that the NSW Government has announced a Tourism Product Development Fund.
across the state can Eligible dining, arts and tourism businessesnow register to take part in the NSW Government's major economic stimulus program, Dine & Discover NSW.
Tourism Australia is hosting a special webinar on Monday 15 February at 2pm AEDT. The webinar will provide an overview of the campaign with information on how industry can leverage it in their own activity.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the
Well known touring motorcyclist and contributing editor Peter Thoeming The Bear is coming to the Ballina Coast and Hinterland for a mid-week stop over arriving on Tuesday 2 March, staying through until departure on Saturday 6 March 2021. Peter, The Bear is a contributing writer for Australian Motorcyclist Magazine, ADVrider.com (adventure rider), Lonely Planet and MCNews.com.au
to develop your own plan.
As part of Ballina Shire Council's Destination Management Plan 2021-2030 all tourism operators would ideally have a Business Continuity Plan to be prepared for the unexpected. The NSW Government has a new guide to assist small business owners making it simpleCouncil is seeking tenders for surf school licences, elite surf coaching licences and stand up paddle board coaching licences for the next three year period.
Episode four of Destination NSW's Long Road series, featuring the Rainforest Way with Troy Cassar-Daley went live last weekend.
across the state can Eligible dining, arts and tourism businessesnow register to take part in the NSW Government's major economic stimulus program, Dine & Discover NSW.
A new roadmap outlines the NSW Governmentâs bold plan to make NSW the premier visitor economy of the Asia-Pacific by 2030.
What's On calendar as this will help to disperse and encourage visitation to local attractions and tour operators.
Visitors continue to flock to our beautiful area and to assist them please ensure you check theJohanna Griggs of Better Homes & Gardens recently visited the Northern Rivers to interview musician Pete Murray and showcase our region.
Local communities across Australia, especially those hardest hit by the loss of regional tourism, are a step closer to sharing in $200 million under a fifth round of the successful Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre have been fielding LOTS of Christmas Day enquiries about places that will be open and and now the enquiries are turning to New Years Eve. Due to COVID the normal annual New Years Eve festivities are not going ahead so if your business is holding a New Years function or event please let us know so we can promote.
Round two of the Live Music Australia program that is designed to assist in the national recovery of the live music sector from the impacts of COVID-19 is now open for applications. Round two will again provide support to small to medium venues, as they begin to reopen and resume the regular performance of original Australian live music. Applications for round two will close on 18 February 2021.
What's On calendar so make sure you keep up to date each day with what's on and look further ahead as some events and activities must be booked beforehand and spaces will fill up fast.
School Holidays have commenced and with families, kids and visitors looking for things to do these tools will be very helpful for you! Activities perfect for kids have been loaded to theThe annual Ballina New Year Tennis Open is on again from 2-5 January 2021. Watch the best of the best as they hit the courts as part of the Australian Ranking Tournament for Tennis.
launched their latest campaign, inviting young people living in New Zealand to travel to Australia this summer for a working holiday. The campaign targets young Kiwis as well as young international travellers living in New Zealand who are eligible
Tourism Australia hasA big congratulations to the Festival and Event funding recipients who have received a share of $120,000 from Ballina Shire Council's 2021/22 Festival and Event sponsorship funding program.
The NSW Government has launched a new toolkit, which aims to better equip businesses in the face of challenges, such as natural disasters and other disruptions.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theJoin an industry webinar to find out about NSW Road Trips, an upcoming state-wide marketing program delivered by Destination NSW.
Announced in the NSW State Government Budget was the Out & About Voucher scheme now called Dine & Discover NSW, aimed at supporting local business recovery.
Council recently invited expressions of interest for the management of the Lennox Head Community Market. Unfortunately, no proposals for the operation of the market were received.
Have you seen the new Northern Rivers NSW brand yet? The brand is the symbol of a new economic and cultural era for one of New South Wales oldest, diverse and alluring regions. Collectively representing the Northern Rivers of NSW, from the Tweed border to the Clarence Valley, the brand is an exciting opportunity for businesses
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theJust like every holidays, the Ballina Visitor Information Centre will be distributing a School Holiday Activity Sheet which is The Summer School Holidays are creeping up and before we know it the Northern Rivers will be brimming with visitors and local families enjoying our region.
What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking theThe Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is calling on business event owners to register expressions of interest (EOI) to take part in the Federal Governments $50 million Business Events Grants program. The program will allow eligible businesses to apply for grants of up $250,000 to cover up to 50 per cent
Could your business benefit from infection prevention and control training and certification to keep your staff and customers safe from Coronavirus? Staff who undertake this online training will receive a nationally recognised qualification and will have been trained to the highest standard.
The training is a government subsidised and free of charge in all states (excluding SA where there is a $15 charge). To access the training, simply fill out the form
Interstate visitors are being encouraged to come take a break in NSW as an extension of the NSWâs Governmentâs âLove NSWâ tourism recovery campaign.
âThe Great Escapeâ campaign is targeting those travellers eager to venture beyond State borders after the restrictions of the past few months.
Every minute of every day, Tourism delivers $9,787 of visitor spend into North Coast - that is almost $14.1 million per day!!
Attached is the Value of Tourismdocument for the North Coast for 2019.
Australian Regional Tourism (ART) platform to help rural communities develop âworld class farmstaysâ.
Accommodation giant Airbnb is providing $70,000 in funding for a newShort-term rental accommodation hosts, guests, letting agents and online booking platform operators in NSW will soon be subject to strict new laws with a mandatory Code of Conduct for the industry to begin in December.
In this Masterclass you will learn how to turn your event into a memorable experience for your guests.
In this Masterclass you will learn how to develop new income streams for your event
Work will soon commence on a major upgrade to the Minyon Falls visitor precinct as part of the largest ever investment into National Park visitor infrastructure.
A section of the Coastal Recreational Walk, south of Boulder Beach carpark, will be temporarily closed to pedestrians for the upgrade of a 200-metre long section including a small boardwalk as part of the Coastal Recreational Walk project.
With venues being shut for so long it is very exciting to see shows, live music and entertainment returning! Most shows are ticketed so make sure you keep up to date with what's on and when to avoid missing out!
Ballina Shire Council is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the management and operation of the Lennox Head Community Market at Williams Reserve for a three-year period.
Ballina Shire Council Mayor, David Wright is delighted to announce the opening of nominations for the 2021 Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards. The annual awards program brings the community together to recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding members and groups in our community.
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre will be temporarily operating in the Richmond Room from Wednesday 21 October to Friday 23 October 2020 due to essential maintenance.
In partnership with the NSW Government, Southern Cross University has announced a call for Expressions of Interest for Innovation Districts R&D Covid-19 Challenges.
Accommodation property operators are invited to the Ballina Comfort Inn for an industry meet and greet over lunch where discussion will be focused on how stakeholders are surviving during COVID-19 and what can be done as businesses to support each other during this time.
Restrictions at hospitality venues will be eased from this Friday 16 October to allow one patron for every two square metres in outdoor areas (previously this was one person per four square metres).
Tourism Australia has launch phase two of the Holiday Here This Year campaign with a television commercial featuring Hamish Blake and his wife Zoe. You may recall that Tourism Australia first launched the Holiday Here This Year campaign in January 2020 to support the bushfire recovery by urging Australians to take a domestic holiday and provide a much-needed boost to tourism operators and communities around the country.
If you want your business to be a lean, mean, marketing machine then ensure you join this upcoming webinar presented by Vim & Zest in collaboration with Northern Rivers Food
Ballina Shire Council will be undertaking upgrades to the walking track to the Killen Falls viewing platform and carrying out revegetation works in the Killen Falls Drive area. The walking track will be closed from 19 October 2020 to 13 November 2020 (weather permitting) while the works are underway.
Live music is returning in style with a COVID safe performance at Park Lane Theatre on Saturday the 24 October by guitar virtuoso Daniel Champagne.
Ballina Shire Council is providing a free four hour workshop to assist small businesses to help them improve their capacity in tendering for government contracts, as part of NSW Small Business Month.
Local business owners can prepare for emergencies and disasters in five simple steps. Download the free Get Ready Business toolkit from Resilience NSW as part of Small Business Month to get started. You think it will never happen to your business, until it does. Are you ready?
Are you opening on Christmas Day? Please inform the Ballina Visitor Information Centre of your trading hours so we can share this with visitors and also list you on the directory page for as being open on Christmas Day. Staff are already getting enquiries on places open for lunch and as bookings will be required we want to be able to let locals and visitors know who to contact.
Destination North Coast invite stakeholders to a 'whole of industry' update.
Following the success of a trial between Dubbo Regional Council, Ballina Shire Council, and Fly Pelican, the popular Dubbo-Ballina flight route will be extended until 31 January 2021, with additional flights also added to the schedule. The original trial period was due to expire on Friday 20 November 2020. Flights on the Canberra - Ballina flight route have also been extended.
Quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and New South Wales and the Northern Territory will start on 16 October in a major boost for the tourism industry.
It's easy to nominate online.
Nominations close Monday 30 November 2020.
Dredging at Shaws Bay has commenced to improve the health of the bay, as well as improving recreational amenities for the community as part of Ballina Shire Council's Coastal Zone Management Plan.
Are you looking to make new friends, be involved in your local community, enhance your knowledge and learn new skills?
DNC Library of Social Media Resources which they hope will be a valuable tool for you and support development of your business's Social Media Strategy.
Destination North Coast (DNC) wish to thank those industry stakeholders who participated in the recent DNC Social Media Usage & Knowledge Survey. Your input to this survey has informed creation of theQueensland's Border Bubble To Expand - The Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk MP announced that the Queensland's border 'bubble' zone will expand from 1am on Thursday, October 1 to include Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes council areas.
With the easing of public health orders and lifting of travel restrictions The NSW Edition of The Senior wishes to engage with locals who know exactly what makes their town so special. The publication is wanting to share your local stories with their 556,824 readers encouraging them to visit the Northern Rivers region.
Regional Tourism Satellite Accounts (RTSA) provide information on the importance of tourism for each of Australia's tourism regions. The reports are published annually and provide measures of tourism gross value add, tourism gross domestic product, tourism employment and tourism trade.
TheEvents CalendarThe activity sheet covers attractions and activities across the Northern Rivers. Find out WHAT'S ON these school holidays and let your guests know what they can do with their family.
The Spring School Holiday Activity Sheet is FULL! Plus extra daily activities are listed on theChannel Seven's Sunrise Weather was broadcasted from the North Wall in Ballina on Tuesday 15 September.
Channel Seven's Sunrise Weather with presenter Sam Mac (Mcmillan) will broadcast from the North Wall in Ballina tomorrow morning from 5:30am - 8:30am.
Thousands of jobs across the tourism and hospitality industry will be backed through a $50 million injection announced by the Federal Government, helping to restart Australia's vital business events sector.
The COVID Safe check-in tool has now gone live across NSW. Be sure to register to allow easy check-in for customers.
Food, boutique beer and distillery lovers across Australia are set to put the Northern Rivers on their travel itinerary, with the NSW Government supporting the Northern Rivers Food tourism initiative in conjunction with Northern Rivers Food.
It's so positive to see new operators opening their doors in our region, a big welcome from the Ballina Tourism Team! Find out more about who has opened new businesses in the heart of Ballina and make sure you pop in to update yourself and share with your own visitors.
R U OK? Day will be celebrated tomorrow Thursday 10 September. This important day highlights how conversations can make a big difference. Lifeâs challenges can leave people feeling helpless, hopeless, afraid, disconnected and at genuine risk.
Destination NSW recently hosted the Discuss and Develop your Business Webinar as part of the NSW First Program.
2021-2030 Ballina Coast and Hinterland Destination Management Plan (DMP). Ballina Shire Council has adopted the
Destination NSW has made available a suite of Quick Tips Web Tutorials on their corporate website to assist tourism businesses with their next steps towards recovery from the COVID-19 period.
The Australian Government has released the guidelines for the RISE Fund and the Sustainability Fund ahead of the formal call for applications on 31 August, giving arts organisations and companies an opportunity to review the criteria and prepare their applications.
Australians are being urged to support our tourism operators by booking an experience with new monthly figures released, showing domestic tourism spending fell by $11.7 billion in April and May of this year, according to new monthly figures released today by Tourism Research Australia (TRA).
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has launched an inquiry to investigate the practices of the insurance industry that impact small businesses and consider whether small business insurance products are fit for purpose.
A new online toolkit is helping businesses as they continue to navigate the challenges of COVID-19.
If you have something you would like to add please don't hesitate to contact a member of the Ballina Tourism Team - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 1800 777 666
Exciting news for our industry! Ballina Byron Gateway Airport has announced the commencement of direct flights between Dubbo and the Northern Rivers via regional airline FlyPelican.
Do you have your accommodation property, tour or workshop as a bookable product on the destination website discoverballina.com.au? Please make sure you have reviewed and updated your cancellation policy.
Great Southern Nights is a music event which will bring 1,000 COVID-safe performances to live music venues in Greater Sydney and regional NSW in November (Australian Music Month).
Tourism businesses are encouraged to register for a series of free online industry events to hear expert advice about the domestic market and how to work with different distribution partners.
Ballina Shire Council has prepared the draft 2021-2030 Ballina Coast and Hinterland Destination Management Plan (DMP) and placed it on public exhibition.
The NSW Government has called on individuals and businesses to redouble their efforts to stop COVID-19 from spreading.
Meet in Regional NSW, Destination NSW's conferencing unit has produced a series of Fact Sheets for established conference destinations to showcase their business events capacity. These fact sheets are available to assist with promoting a destinations capacity and experiences to future meeting planners.
Meet in Regional NSW website can now share details of their latest conferencing deals and promotions via the new feature aimed to showcase venues to potential clients.
Venues listed onDestination NSW has released a series of online industry events to support the NSW tourism industry in its COVID-19 recovery. The following digital events will run in late July and throughout August with advance registration required.
Applications are now open for the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) Recovery and Resilience Grants Program. Not for profit community groups across the Northern Rivers impacted by a recent disaster, such as a flood, bushfire, or COVID-19 can now apply for grants from $2,000 - $10,000.
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) are keen to hear from people across regional NSW about their views on local bus services and fares. IPART want to hear what the key issues facing your local community are.
The annual Event Summit will return to Sydney this October and will be free for event stakeholders for the first time in its three-year history in a show of support for the industry. To be held across two iconic Sydney venues on one day - The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and The Sydney Opera House, the Event Summit will bring together the events industry and help it get back on its feet.
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The Regional Tourism Reports detail the performance of the tourism industry by Destination Network area. The combined results for the industry on the North Coast for 2019 were extremely positive overall with over 15.5M visitors (+14%), 28.5M nights (+15%) and a combined spend of $5.1B (+14%).
Business NSW are sending out an invitation to any sole trader/small businesses to be involved in this Super Course pilot program.
If your small business or not-for-profit organisation has experienced a decline in turnover as a result of COVID-19, you may be eligible for a small business recovery grant of between $500 and $3000.
The first Qantas flight in 15 years direct between Sydney and Ballina Byron Gateway Airport landed last Wednesday 1 July.
On Friday 3 July the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport welcomed the first direct flight between Australia's capital, Canberra, and Northern Rivers NSW via renowned regional airline FlyPelican.
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport has a new welcome desk where volunteer ambassadors will meet and greet arriving passengers.
NSW will temporarily close its border with Victoria from 12.01am Wednesday 8 July to contain the spread of COVID-19. The move follows an increase in community transmission of the virus in Melbourne.
The NSW Government is committed to providing practical support to help your business recover from COVID-19.
Public Health Order easing a number of restrictions came into effect today, subject to strict social distancing rules.
A remadeNSW School Holidays start this Friday afternoon! Ensure you donwload a copy of the School Holiday Activity Sheet or reguarly check the What's On Calendar to arm yourself with ideas to pass on to your visitors.
To find out What's On visit School Holidays Activities July 2020
The Australian Government has endorsed health guidelines, supported by key authorities, to give confidence to passengers flying in the post-pandemic era.
Applications for the Business Events Boost Program, a new domestic partnership initiative to support industry-led business events marketing and distribution projects, will open 1 July 2020.
guidance to assist small businesses to understand their rights and obligations when issuing refunds in response to the coronavirus under the Australian Consumer Law.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ('ACCC') has issuedIn a welcome boost to the regional economy, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport has announced the commencement of direct flights between Australias capital, Canberra, and Northern Rivers NSW via renowned regional airline FlyPelican.
As business activity across NSW continues to pick up, tourism operators are reminded to follow all NSW Government and health advice.
A free listing for businesses who supply products and services to the conference industry in regional NSW is now available on the Meet in Regional NSW website!
The Ballina Visitor Centre reopened their doors on Monday and we are responding to enquiries from locals and visitors about what what businesses are trading. We would LOVE to hear from you to find out if you are open, what hours you are trading and any additional information that would support our service to pass on to customers.
On Monday 1 June, regional travel was welcomed back to our beautiful area and with this it brings visitors wanting to experience and explore everything our region has to offer.
Salesforce. These grants will be offered as a one off payment of $10,000 (including GST) to 67 businesses across Australia.
The Council of Small Business Relief Fund Australia (COSBOA) is offering grants to Australian small businesses adversely affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with grants made possible byWant to bring your business into the digital world and tell your business story through social media? Then register for this free webinar on May 27 at 2.30pm. If that time doesn't suit, register anyway and access the recording to watch at a time that suits you.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced that regional travel will be permitted in NSW from Monday 1 June with travel restrictions to be lifted on this date.
Whether you are an emerging business or destination, or need to revamp your existing offering, register for the upcoming agritourism webinar, a great opportunity to learn about this sector and to learn to build your Agribusiness. Agritourism is a tourism-related experience or product that connects agricultural products, people or places with visitors to a farm or rural land.
As restrictions begin to ease and operators are permitted to reopen, there is a lot of talk amongst local businesses as to what the public health orders entail and what that means for your operations. As things change daily or weekly, keep up to date by reguarly checking the websites below so you can act now and be ready for reopening:-
The Ballina Coast & Hinterland wishes to come back from COVID-19 bigger, brighter and more appealing to visitors. We want to work with local businesses to promote unique and authentic experiences that give our destination character. Visitors are no doubt spending more time online during this climate, and with all destinations relying on tourism to come back, lets make sure we stand out!
Destination North Coast (DNC) invites you to the third in our FREE Webinar series with the next titled Business Resilience & Continuity Planning, to be held at 2.30pm, Tuesday 12th May.
Ballina Shire Council has released the draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan for the upcoming financial year. This is your opportunity to find out more about what Council plans to deliver and to have your say.
NSW First Destination NSW has developed a new suite of resources as part of its industry development program to help travel and tourism operators navigate these unprecedented times.
According to Australian Tourism Export Council, there has never been a better time for industry operators to work on their businesses so they have launched an extensive online tourism tutorial series to guide operators through the process. ATEC has developed the âRoad to Recoveryâ Tourism Tutorial Series, a 36-week program designed to provide the tourism industry with all the necessary tools in order to be ready for the bounce back.
More than 60 free online workshops and webinars are now available through Business Connect to help NSW small businesses manage cashflow, change business models, sell goods and services online and market businesses in a challenging environment.
Takeaway food and alcohol can be sold this ANZAC Day in a move to help businesses impacted by COVID-19. Liquor & Gaming NSW and NSW Fair Trading have issued a Statement of Regulatory Intent to allow more flexibility.
Service NSW website.
The NSW Government is providing financial support of up to $10,000 to ease pressures on small businesses and non-profit organisations suffering as a result of COVID-19. Applications of this grant are now open for eligible businesses. Further details including; eligibility and how to apply can be found on theUp to 200,000 licence holders operating across various industries, including hospitality, will be relieved of $50 million of NSW Government licence fees. Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the NSW Government was focused on keeping businesses in business and as many people as possible in jobs.
NSW First Destination NSW has developed a new suite of resources as part of its industry development program to help travel and tourism operators navigate these unprecedented times. The resources provide business owners with advice about how to stay in touch with customers, maintaining relationships with media and distribution partners, and opportunities to develop new areas of business.
These Autumn Holidays are different to any we have ever experienced. The message to stay home, don't visit just now is unusual but necessary.
The Ballina Tourism Team has been working with BP Australia for over three years to enable a provision of visitor information from the new BP Travel Centre. A visitor information service in the form of a Digital Visitor Hub is set to open on Thursday 16 April 2020. This Centre will proceed as scheduled due to the fuel and takeaway food component being deemed by the State Government as an essential service.
Destination North Coast invites you to join a FREE Webinar at 10.00am, Friday 17th April 2020, as they endeavour to unpack the various Stimulus Packages available during the COVID-19 Crisis.
Are you a small local artisan that produces non-perishable items? The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) are looking for local artisans in bushfire affected areas to supply locally-made goods to be packaged up in gift bags for future international events and forums.
Coronavirus Impact Survey? The data will be provided to each region to assess the economic impacts and shared with Destination NSW and Tourism Australia. One survey only per business please.
Three weeks ago Destination North Coast launched the Coronavirus Impact Survey to collect data on the effects of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on your business. If you haven't already, please spare 2 minutes complete thisguidance to assist small businesses to understand their rights and obligations when issuing refunds in response to the coronavirus under the Australian Consumer Law.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ('ACCC') has issued
Does your business have professional video footage that would inspire visitation and encourage locals and visitors to enjoy what you have to offer?
The NSW Government has announced amendments to the Public Health Order regarding restrictions on caravan parks and camping grounds.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The NSW Government in conjunction with TAFE NSW announced on Monday that they will be offering a selection of 21 fee-free short courses.
As businesses adapt to the changes of the current COVID-19 situation, Business Australia remains focused on keeping you informed. Research suggests now is the time to step aside, look at your business and create long-term strategies to implement and plan ahead for the future.
Thousands of small businesses across NSW struggling to cope with the COVID-19 restrictions will receive grants of up to $10,000 under a new assistance scheme announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope.
You're not alone! Join this practical, wisdom-sharing panel discussion with highly experienced local business leaders and mentors on how they have navigated past downturns and are currently managing their businesses to maximise their ability to continue to trade through this period and build ongoing resilience.
To facilitate social distancing for our residents, Ballina Shire Council is coordinating Ballina Business Connect, a service to enable residents to obtain staple household items without having to leave home.
All retailers who can provide staple items, such as groceries and essential daily needs, are invited to register for Ballina Business Connect.
Ballina Shire Council has announced a business package to support local business and residents during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The package includes:
Below is Destination North Coasts latest Industry Development and resources on How to Stay Productive When Working and Tips from Tourism eSchool. Useful information that may support your business through these tough times.
The NSW Government is calling on manufacturers around the state to help fill gaps in the global supply of critical medical equipment and hygiene products. This opportunity will not only fill a much needed gap in critical supplies depleted by COVID-19, but will allow some businesses to keep their employees on the job for longer when they may not have been able to.
NPWS COVID-19 regularly for updates and answers to frequently asked questions.
In response to tighter Australian and NSW Government health directives on social distancing and non-essential travel to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is putting in place important measures for the health and safety of our staff, visitors and the wider community that we need to let you know about. This is a rapidly changing situation, so please checkExport Market Development Grants (EMDG) program in the 2019-20 financial year, allowing exporters and tourism businesses to get additional reimbursements for costs incurred in marketing their products and services around the world.
The Australian Government will inject an extra $49.8 million into theCoronavirus Impact Survey to collect data on the effects of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on your business. If you haven't already, please spare 2 minutes to answer these 11 questions in this Coronavirus Impact Survey. The data will be provided to each region to assess the economic impacts and shared with Destination NSW and Tourism Australia.
Last week Destination North Coast launched theThe Destination North Coast Business Events team is hosting weekly online #allinthistogether informal online morning tea sessions for businesses during this difficult and challenging time.
Public Health Orders issued by the NSW Government in regards to COVID-19?
Are you having difficulty understanding the
To facilitate social distancing for our residents, Ballina Shire Council is coordinating Ballina Business Connect, a service to enable residents to obtain staple household items without having to leave home.
All retailers who can provide staple items, such as groceries and essential daily needs, are invited to register for Ballina Business Connect.
Coronavirus Impact Survey? The data will be provided to each region to assess the economic impacts and shared with Destination NSW and Tourism Australia.
Destination North Coast is collecting data on the effects of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on your business. Can you please spare 2 minutes to answer these 11 questions in thisIn planning for recovery, during this extremely difficult time we encourage those with Bookeasy accounts to review the products and availability listed on Bookeasy.
Business Connect program to help businesses experiencing disruption.
The State Government is running a series of webcasts through theAre you open for business? does your business offer services that can support the community at this time? tell us what you are doing and we will share and promote your services to direct customers your way.
Download a copy of the latest 'What's On' guide to stay in the know - markets, live music, theatre, activities for families, local tours, dining promotions and so much more!
Print them off and share them with your guests and visiting friends and family.
Event Managers Master Classes for more info or to register.
Organising and running an event is hard work! There are lots of challenges that event organisers face so rEvents Academy have organised 9 webinars with different themes to help tackle some of these. Securing sponsors, recruiting volunteers, Keeping it fresh are just some of the webinars available so visit
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation's next funding round will open soon on 25 March. Applications are being accepted for funding of projects that help people facing disadvantage, marginalisation and isolation in regional communities until 4 May.
The School Holiday Sheet is always very popular and we often have lots of locals (and visitors) seeking it prior to the holidays commencing so they can book. The Ballina Tourism Team are seeking any family friendly activities, events or holiday specials to include and it's FREE to be included! The School Hoiday Activity Sheet not only promotes our region but encourages visitors to explore our region with all the things to see and do!
Get involved with this State-wide Campaign by using hashtags on your social media posts ... the more you hashtag and share, the more visitors will be motivated to book a holiday to the region and utilise your property, activity, restaurant etc.
Regional communities, in particular those affected by bushfires and drought, can now apply for $1 million worth of grants to deliver events that attract visitors and provide an economic boost to local businesses.
See What's On across the Northern Rivers with our handy fortnightly guide. Print off copies to give to your guests or pop into the Ballina Visitor Information Centre for copies.
After a night of hearvy rainfall in the Rocky Creek Dam catchment, the dam level is at full supply with more than 300mm flowing over the spillway.
Tourism Australia have announced a $10million Federal grants program which has been allocated from the Bushfire Recovery Fund, part of the Governmentâs $76 million tourism recovery package to protect jobs, small businesses and local economies by helping get tourists travelling into bushfire affected regions.
The recovery of NSWâs tourism industry from the effects of drought and bushfires is in everyoneâs hands with Destination NSW launching its new marketing campaign, Nowâs The Time To Love NSW.
Do you have an activity or event you would like promoted? Click on SUBMIT YOUR EVENT along with an image so we can promote it for you - free of charge!
Any questions, please contact us on 1800 777 666.
It's time to plan ahead and have your say on what actions need to be delivered upon to have a successful tourism industry into the future. Survey answers are anonymous and feedback provided through this consultaion process will be used in developing the strategy within the new Destination Management Plan (DMP) for the Ballina Shire.
VisitNSW.com and Sydney.com, allowing them to reach more than 1.7 million potential visitors per month.
Is your business listed on Get Connected? Get Connected is a data warehouse that allows all NSW tourism related operators to list their products free-of-charge on Destination NSWs consumer websites -
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The transit hub of Northern Rivers, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, has received a massive boost with the announcement that Qantas will commence daily services to and from Sydney.
There are still plenty of visitors in the area so if you have families staying or visiting your establishment, make sure you let them know about all the fun activities happening daily throughout the region. The School Holiday Activity Sheet is a very popular tool that can be printed and handed out to guests on arrival or pinned up on a noticeboard in your business.
To download a copy visit School Holiday Fun
Below is a A MESSAGE FROM DESTINATION NSW regarding the NSW bushfires:
Our thoughts and sympathies are with families and communities affected by the unprecedented bushfires in NSW, and our eternal thanks go to the emergency services who continue to battle the bushfires across the state.
Find the handy Fortnightly What's On Sheet here and be sure to provide it to your visitors for ideas for what to see and do during their stay. For further details along with our school holiday program please visit discoverballina.com.
The Small Business Commission have provided the Ballina Tourism Team with information on practical support to help all businesses affected by the NSW bushfires, from damaged or destroyed property to disrupted business and reduced income. Following are the resources available to you to assist with recovery from the disasters.
discoverballina.com and through the Ballina Visitor Information Centre then you would know that we use Bookeasy as our booking engine. Bookeasy is an Australian owned and operated business, based on the Gold Coast, with many staff having been with the company for more than a decade!
If you are bookable through the destination website
* Love Lennox Festival
* Skullcandy Oz Grom Open
* Quota International Alstonville/Wollongbar Craft & Garden Fair
* New Years Eve Family Festival
The Christmas holiday period is fast approaching which means it is time to check your Bookeasy profile. Bookeasy is the booking system used by the Ballina Tourism Team to book tours, experiences and accommodation on discoverballina.com and through the Ballina Visitor Information Centre. Working together allows more exposure for your business and more sales!
How does the North Coast compare? Check out North Coast NSW region's accommodation performance in the latest Australian Accommodation Monitor.
The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport continues to grow, breaking records with annual passenger numbers currently at over 530,000 per annum and now is your chance to get your business in front of them! The upcoming cycle for the DL brochure board, within the arrivals terminal is great value for money at only $150 (including GST) for the six month cycle starting on Thursday 2 January 2020 through until Tuesday 30 June 2020.
Is video working well for your tourist destination or tourism business? Could it be better? The Tourism Business and Destination Video Toolkit Webinars are designed for Business Owners, Sales & Marketing managers, Communications teams and anyone managing video content in the Tourism & Events industries.
buyregional website will be strongly promoted in the run-up to Christmas. The Government run site has already been widely publicised and traffic is over 40,000 page views so far.
City dwellers in NSW and beyond are encouraged to support regional communities in drought-hit areas by buying regional. Recently launched by the Deputy Premier, Matt Moran and regional advocates Grace Brennan #BuyfromtheBush and Cassandra McLaren #OneDayClosertoRain, the
Have your say on the future of the tourism industry in Australia! Austrade invites you to join this webinar and be part of development of Tourism 2030.
What's ON Calendar for an extensive list of markets, tours, workshops and other local events.
It's gearing up to be a BIG weekend in the Northern Rivers - Fair Go Skatefest in Ballina & Sample Food Festival in Bangalow are two huge events drawing big crowds to the region. Don't forget to check out theDoes your business need to learn more about the online digital world? Net Stripes and Ballina Chamber of Commerce are hosting a Digital Bootcamp tailored to the digital needs of retail, professional services and the service industryto provide a rich understanding of what it takes to drive traffic, convert customers and increase sales within your business.
WHATS ON for a full list of events and happenings!
Northern Rivers Community Gallery launch new exhibitions today, Thursday 29 August at 5:30pm. See Ballina Players latest production, Victorian State Ballet and get along to the Byron Bay or Lismore Sunday Market plus LOTS more....... VisitOr check out the Tours and Attractions for a extensive list of bookable tours your visitors can experience!
The Ballina Tourism team has secured an amazing opportunity in Tigertales, Tiger Air's inflight magazine and are offering 8 local operators the opportunity to be part of our feature on 'Top 10 Insta-worthy Experiences' in the Northern Rivers! yes two spots have already gone!!
Quota Craft & Garden Fair - a two day fair showcasing the finest hand-made crafts from artisans across the region combined with a garden fair. Plenty of activities, guest speakers and local talent!
Find out Whats On this weekend by checking our event calendar! Big events include
Did you know that Destination NSW offers a series of webcasts that cover topics such as product development, appying for funding, inbound strategy and more!
One lucky business can win $1200 worth of FREE advertising in the next destination marketing campaign while enjoyed places to eat, drink, shop, stay and play!
The NSW Government is proposing changes to short-term rental accommodation (STRA) through a state-wide planning framework, a mandatory Code of Conduct and changes to strata legislation. The introduction of a new industry-led STRA property register is also being considered.
Find out What's On this weekend so you have something to look forward to throughout your working week! The North Coast Mud Trail is a huge drawcard to the region with over 21 local ceramists and potters opening their studios for the weekend - not that you we need an excuse for a scenic hinterland drive!
Have you got your tickets to the 2019 Lennox Head Business Awards Gala Event? This year the Gala night will be at Beef & Beach in Lennox Head. There will be entertainment, award presentations, delicious food and drinks. Get recognised, celebrate your achievements, eat some great food and share a drink with other business owners.
The Ballina Chamber of Commerce held their Business Awards on Saturday night. On behalf of the Ballina Tourism Team a huge congratulations to all the winners and nominees!
Keep up to date with What's Happening throughout the region this week - let visitors know about events, markets, tours and activities they can head along to.
Visit WHAT'S ON for more information and to print your copy for your visitors. Teven Tintenbar Public Schools Annual Country Fair, Bangalow Music Festival, brewery tours, live music and local markets.
The Ballina Tourism Team wish to extend their sincere gratitude to all of those involved in the Northern Rivers Visitor Guide publication. The guide was officially launched at the Ballina Visitor Information Centre on Monday 5 August in a fun expo style event.
Tourism operators are getting ready for the big reveal as to what the new Northern Rivers Visitor Guide will look like.
Have you RSVP'ed to the launch of the Northern Rivers Visitor Guide. You can RSVP here now.
Did you watch the Ballina Coast & Hinterland Travel Oz segment?
If you missed it catch up here
Make sure your front of house staff and visitors know what's happening around the Northern Rivers this week - it may increase their length of stay in our region!
Visit WHAT'S ON for more information and to print your copy for your visitors. Byron Writers Festival is always a huge drawcard, the whales are in the peak of their season so tours are booking out fast -
To launch the new Northern Rivers visitor guide that showcases over 260 experiences for visitors and locals to enjoy, we are asking advertisers to bring the book to life by showcasing themselves at the launch.
The next cycle to advertise at the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport in the DL brochure board has commenced however if you are wanting to secure a spot it is not too late!
Council is committed to renewing the infrastructure in our town centres to enhance the public amenity and help deliver improved economic outcomes for our local business community. Council has allocated $2.7 million for the final stage of the River Street Upgrade, between Moon and Grant Street.
For the first time in years the Northern Rivers will have a visitor guide showcasing over 260 experiences for visitors and locals to enjoy. This is all thanks to over 150 local businesses collaborating to bring this project to life.
27 leading tourism businesses, events, and visitor experiences have been announced as finalists in the North Coastâs only industry-backed tourism awards, the 2019 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards.
Seller applications are open until Tuesday 16th July for Australia Marketplace China 2019. The event will be held in Chengdu from 11th to 15th November and includes pre-scheduled appointments between buyers and sellers, and opportunities to network at the official event functions.
The Ballina tourism team will soon launch its latest marketing tool used to promote the wider region to prospective visitors. The guide is currently being printed after months of hard work by the Tourism team and local businesses.
Winter School Holiday Activity Sheet which is loaded with free and affordable activities to keep visitors and families busy over the holiday season.
"I'm bored!" is something you do not want to hear over the Schoool Holidays so make sure you download a copy of theEvery year, the NSW Tourism Awards shines a spotlight on excellence in tourism so entering is worth every minute! It is a great opportunity to market and promote your business if you are a finalist or an Award winner. You have to be in it to win it!
AIME is currently the leading exhibition in Australia for the meetings, incentives and events Industry taking place in Melbourne from 17-19 February. There are only 3 booths remaining if you are interested in co-exhibiting with Destination NSW.
Assists existing small to medium Australian producers, farmers and manufacturers to innovate and grow their business.
Coles Nurture Fund apply online before Friday 30 August 2019.
The Grants Program provides seed funding to organisations and councils to run local festival events and activities that provide opportunities for people over 60 to remain active, healthy, engaged and contributing to their local communities.
Apply online before Friday 9th August.
QANTAS has unveiled a new multimillion dollar grants initiative, including free flights, that will aim to support regional communities across the country.
Destination North Coast will hold their next Board Meeting in the Lennox Head Cultural and Community Centre on Wednesday 29th May and invite our industry colleagues to join the DNC team and Board afterwards for a casual networking event with details below.
Destination North Coast will hold their next Board Meeting in the Lennox Head Cultural and Community Centre on Wednesday 29th May and invite our industry colleagues to join the DNC team and Board afterwards for a casual networking event with details below.
In 2019, Regional Tourism Awards invite nominations from six Destination Networks including the North Coast.
The program provides tourism organisations and individuals the opportunity to gain recognition for their success and promote tourism within their region.
Do you have an outstanding tourism business? If so get your applications in to the 2019 Regional Tourism Awards now before the 24 May deadline.
In 2019, Regional Tourism Awards invite nominations from six Destination Networks including the North Coast.
The program provides tourism organisations and individuals the opportunity to gain recognition for their success and promote tourism within their region.
Sourdough Business Pathways is hosting the Future of Business in Ballina discussion, collaboration and growth event at Ramada Hotel this Friday 10 May. Secure your place now.
Workforce development/skills and training issues are often nominated as a key issue faced by regional tourism businesses.
Whats On Calendar for daily events and activities or download a copy of the School Holiday Activity Sheet for an overview.
Keep family, friends and visitors busy these School Holidays. There is so much to do and experience the only tough thing choice is deciding WHAT activity to do! Check out theA familiar voice and face finishes up this week, Prue is going on maternity leave. Prue has worked at the Ballina Visitor information Centre and Community Spaces for over three years and has become an integral part of our team Prue will be missed by us all while she settles into her new role of motherhood, we wish her all the best for the birth of her new little bundle of joy.
Time is running out to be part of the new and exciting Insiders Guide to the Northern Rivers, co-ordinated by the Ballina Tourism Team.
Applications are closing this week and we donât want you to miss out on a feature in our exciting new destination marketing campaign. This publication will be distributed throughout the region and beyond.
FREEfor you to be included.
Submit Your School Holiday Activity to the Ballina Tourism Team for the School Holiday Activity Sheet. We are seeking any family friendly activities, events or holiday specials to include in our School Holiday Sheet and isThe Ballina Tourism Team are ecstatic that for the first time ever, Ballina has welcomed over one million visitors. The news that 1,028 000 people visited the Ballina Shire in the 17/18 fiscal year was confirmed by Tourism Research Australia.
The Ballina Tourism team wants businesses across the region to be part of a new visitor guide to attract holiday makers to the Northern Rivers.
The Macadamia Castle has just launched a new VIP Tour. This new intimate experience provides exclusive behind-the-scenes access of the Macadamia Castle's Animal Park, where participants have a dedicated Keeper to meet native, endangered and farmyard animals one-on-one.
It is exciting to see new tours and activities in the region so we wanted to share some of the latest ones to join our industry!
School may be back but we are still finding their are people about on holidays and looking for things to do. If you have guests staying, make sure you keep up to date with What's On so you can keep them entertained.
Summer School Holiday Activity Sheet which is loaded with free and affordable activities to keep visitors and families busy over the holiday season.
"I'm bored!" is something you do not want to hear over the Schoool Holidays so make sure you download a copy of theThe NSW Regional Business Event Development Fund has been designed by Destination NSW to help stakeholders create, attract and support exciting business events for regional NSW and to support new business event initiatives.
Odyssey Wake Surf N Ski is Ballina Coast & Hinterlands newest recreational business and offers Wakeboarding, Water Skiing and Wake Surfing from 1st timers to advanced. Located on the beautiful Richmond River, Odyssey Wake Surf N Ski aims to give visitors an alluring water sports experience of enjoyment, local scenery, sublime water conditions and fun.
checklist below and let us know!
It is that time of the year again to update our list of Export-ready Product with Destination NSW and if you are wondering if that is you then please go through theThank you to the operators that recently attended the industry collaboration workshops. It was great to see so much enthusiasm, a willingness to share and work together.
For those that were unable to attend, the feedback from the workshops shows an overwhelming desire to engage in cross-selling opportunities.
The Market ON DUSK at Missingham Bridge Ampitheatre held over four summer evenings in December and January.
We are very excited to help promote a new summer market which will be known asBoosting the Visitor Economy Together - FREE Workshops. If you would like to attract more visitors to your business and get bigger bang for your buck, then don't miss this free workshop designed with your needs in mind.
The Tourism Group, supported by Destination New South Wales is publishing the second annual edition of Traveller's Guide to New South Wales.
Mark it in your calendar - the 2018 Ballina Country Music Festival will be held Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th November. This is the 7th year for this annual event which is a 3 day festival with Adam Brand headlining and over 100 other artists providing free entertainment across 6 stages throughout 5 venues.
Visitors to our region come to relax and unwind and National Parks are a popular day trip for many.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has released a new mobile app, providing park visitors with information and maps at their fingertips to help improve their experience.
The latest statistics are in regarding visitor numbers and spending in different areas. Tourism Research Australia have updated the LGA visitor data and Ballina Coast & Hinterland now have 728,000 visitors per annum who spend $255 million while in our shire.
Business Connect (funded by the NSW Government) will be running a series of Digital Bootcamps in Ballina. Four sessions will be on offer to help you to achieve your business goals using digital capabilities.
Day 1: Small business digital readiness, Customer personas & buying cycle: Thursday 8th November (1pm-6.30pm)
Mens Masters National Hockey Championships and the Oceania Cup bringing in families from all over Australia, it is no wonder accommodation properties are heavily booked.
The holidays have certainly started with a bang! With QLD already a week in, NSW starting this Friday PLUS sporting events such as theSchool Holiday Activity Sheet. We love the school holidays here at the Ballina Visitor Information Centre and have compiled a list of fun actvities that are on offer these holidays to keep the kids busy.
Keep your visiting families busy these school holidays - download your copy of theJust a reminder that the National Mens Hockey Masters Championships will be held in Ballina and Lismore from tomorrow, Thursday 20 September to Sunday 7 October 2018.
Event organisers across rural and regional NSW holding events between January and June 2019, are encouraged to apply for the NSW Government's Flagship Event Fund, which has now opened.
Submit Your School Holiday Activity to the Ballina Tourism Team for the School Holiday Activity Sheet.
Ballina Triathlon Factsheet showing the road closures, detours and provides further information regarding the event.
This weeked Ballina will welcome visitors from across the state and Queensland to host the Ballina Triathlon which will be based at Pop Denison Park, Shaws Bay, East Ballina. Download a copy of theThe practical Inbound Strategy Workshop is designed to provide tourism businesses, such as tours, attractions and accommodation, with the necessary steps to develop and sell export-ready tourism products to the international travel trade.
What's On around the area this weekend - North Coast Mud Trail, Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Regatta, Rous Bonfire & Fireworks, Bangalow BBQ & Bluegrass Festival, Ballina Markets and more!
Find outThe Ballina Tourism Team have been working hard with businesses around the Northern Rivers to create an A5 booklet showcasing bookable experiences for locals and visitors that will make lasting memories.
You should receive a copy of this new marketing tool in the post over the next few days.
What marketing channels do you use to promote your business?
The Tourism Team at Ballina Shire Council would like to hear from you in regards to the promotional channels you value and would like to work cooperatively in, with your fellow industry members, to promote the destination.
Find out What's On around the area this weekend - Bangalow Music Festival, family fun at Richmond Christian College 25th Birthday Celebrations, Seabird Rescue Fundraiser, Lennox Community Market and more!
If you have an event, workshop or something that should be included please contact us on 1800 777 666 or submit online
Is your business on Social Media? Do you have a facebook or instagram account? Please tag us in your photos so we can share them on our sites! If we aren't already following your business, please invite us so we can start following you too!
The next cycle to advertise at the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport in the DL brochure board has commenced however if you are wanting to secure a spot it is not too late! We have 5 spots left!
AIME is one of the most important trade exhibition in Australia and the asia-pacific region for meetings, conventions, events and incentive travel.
Find out What's On around the area this weekend - Byron Writers Festival, Newrybar Fireworks & Fair, Seabird Rescue Fundraiser, local markets, beer making workshops and more!
If you have an event, workshop or something that should be included please contact us on 1800 777 666 or submit online
Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG) is currently inviting exhibition applications across all artforms from artists, artist groups and curators for the 2019 exhibition program.
The Ballina Tourism team have produced a new booklet to inspire locals and visitors. The booklet showcases indulgent activities as well as things for adventure seekers, food and nature lovers, arts and culture buffs and those wanting to relax and nurture themselves.
If you have a business in Lennox Head, it is time to get recognised for all your hard work!
Nominations are now open until 15 August with the awards Gala dinner taking place at Shelter on 3 September.
The award categories are varied so for futher details and to nominate your business, go to the Chamber website for all the details.
Find out What's On around the area this weekend - Grand Opening of Ballina & Alstonville Pools, local markets, distillery tours and more!
If you have an event, workshop or something that should be included please contact us on 1800 777 666 or submit online