Sunset, Shellharbour | Credit: Dee Kramer Photography
Welcome to Destination Download
It’s been a busy and inspiring few weeks across the region! From environmental recognition and new products as well as lots learnt about Agritourism.
In this edition, we’ve rounded up practical tools and webinars for operators, industry insights from our team, and exciting local initiatives, plus event dates and stories worth celebrating.
Remember, if you are keen to connect, please reach out to the team. We are here to support you!
In this edition:
News & Announcements
Business & Skills Development, Resources, Events
Industry Insights
Local Updates
Grant & Funding Opportunities
We want to hear from you!
Just a reminder that as our valued stakeholder, we would love to hear from you to ensure we are communicating with you effectively.
To ensure our communications like our Destination Download newsletter and social media updates are valuable and relevant to you, we’d love your input.
You can tell us what's working, what's not, how often you'd like to hear from us, and through which channels you prefer to stay informed.
Agritourism is a sector DSSS has long been supportive of and passionate about. This week our General Manager, Shannan and Business & Partnership Specialist, Tash attended the Agritourism Summit in Orange, to join a room full of keen farmers and tourism professionals.
It was a great event and a full day of excellent discussion. We're pleased to share some of Tash's takeouts from the day:
🌿 Agritourism can be a business safety net for the farm and to farmers, it gives you a direct voice to your customers. 🌿 The importance of agritourism is different in different areas and in peri-urban areas such as those in the DSSS region, the diversification is necessary for the viability of these properties and businesses. 🌿 Common barriers and challenges are and continue to be – red tape, insurance, taxation and biosecurity. Though biosecurity can also be a chance to teach visitors, so have it form part of your experience as a learning opportunity. 🌿 Red tape exists and needs to be in place to protect the three P's – people, place and product. While doing the right thing with licencing and compliance is hard, it builds trust with regulatory bodies and is worth it. 🌿 Make sure your signage is right, just having “OPEN” is not enough. 🌿 Remember, as a farmer you might think it is boring, but visitors love it! Understanding your audience is essential – connect with tourism contacts (like us at DSSS) to make sure your offering matches the demand of your visitors, their needs and so you know how their habits change. 🌿 Invest in unique offering, people will pay for it! Build your brand, understand your story – it is rooted in place, based on family connection and history to the local area and your property. This creates a true story, authentic experience and strong connection. 🌿 Making your offering accessible for visitors is really important, making the farm accessible for your family and staff might just be lifechanging. Help is available to assist with this. 🌿 The next generation – allow them to be curious and innovative. When working through succession planning, give them enough rope and be trusting of them.
One of many standout quotes from the day: "We export our produce overseas, why can’t we import the visitors straight to the source?"
If you would like to hear more or are considering whether agritourism could be a good fit for your business, please reach out to Tash - she'd love to chat with you.
Upcoming webinars with Regional Arts NSW
Regional Arts NSW has a few upcoming webinars for the arts community, including:
Business Plans for Artists including how to promote your business
Building your online presence through websites, Directories and Social media
Admin tips for running a successful creative Business
Good Governance Tips for Not for profit groups in the arts
All webinars cost $21.97 for non-members or are free for members, including booking fees.
Whether you’re finishing school or seeking a career change, this course will set you on the right path. This course is designed for individuals who would like to explore the diverse roles and opportunities the visitor economy has to offer.
Looking to attract more customers? Adding a deal or special offer to your Tourism Business Profile is a powerful way to boost your online visibility and your bookings. Whether it’s a discount, a special package, or a money-can’t-buy offer, your deals will help you get the attention of customers seeking extra value.
Boost your visibility and attract more bookings. Log in to the ATDW platform to add a deal to make your experience the top choice for travellers.
Two Illawarra venues are among the first in the country to earn new environmental certification
Illawarra music venues are leading the way in environmentally responsible practice and accountability, with the region boasting two of the first businesses to ever receive Green Venue Certification. The shift to sustainability is also helping to save money and attract artists.
La La La’s and Anita’s Theatre were among the nine venues to be given a green tick after an investigation into areas such as energy usage and waste production revealed both sites were taking positive steps to reduce their environmental footprint.
Talking Tourism podcast
Designed for tourism operators and industry professionals, Talking Tourism features short, practical conversations that offer insights and skills you can apply in your business. Episodes are released monthly, with more than 150 past episodes available to explore.
Attract and retain guests with the accessible tourism accreditation program
The Accessible Accommodation Program is an accreditation and booking platform helping travellers with disability find reliable, accessible places to stay.
Discover what's been happening across our industry. To share your new product, experience or event, please get in touch with us at info@dnsss.com.au.
Regional snapshots from the road with our Business Development Manager, Kylie Bushby
It’s been a busy and energising couple of weeks meeting with passionate operators, discovering fresh visitor experiences, and engaging in industry conversations that help shape the future of our region. Here’s a snapshot of the businesses I’ve recently connected with:
Beau at Kiama Cycles – exploring exciting new self-guided and guided e-bike tours
There’s a strong sense of momentum building across our region, and it’s inspiring to see new products and partnerships emerging.
If you’ve got an idea in the works or would like to explore opportunities, I’d love to connect, whether in person or virtually. Book a time to chat with me here.
Platinum tickets for NSW's hottest new festival are on sale now
Horizontal Festival, a brand-new celebration of everything we love about NSW—exceptional food, wine, music, art and people, brought together for an unforgettable weekend in the beautiful Southern Highlands.
Be the first to book in-demand Masterclasses led by culinary icon Mark Best, with appearances by the Highlands' own Eilish Maloney, and award-winning chef Simon Evans of Bangalay Dining. Masterclass bookings open 29 August – Platinum subscribers get early access! Pre-sale on 26 August.
When Rachel Peedom from BeeInspired and Flo Pilorge from Bay and Bush Jervis Bay crossed paths at the DSSS Symposium in Kiama this past May, neither could have predicted how quickly inspiration would turn into action.
Sparked by a shared passion for sustainability, education, and immersive guest experiences, they’ve now joined forces to bring a unique series of apiary experiences to life - from curated tastings and creative workshops to hands-on tours in the Australian bush. This collaboration is already buzzing with excitement, and it all began thanks to the connections made through the incredible DSSS community.
Shellharbour City Council launches 'Fly from Home' campaign
Congratulations to Shellharbour City Council on the fantastic launch of their ‘Fly From Home’ campaign!
This initiative not only showcases the ease and convenience of travelling directly from Shellharbour Airport but also shines a light on the incredible detail behind the scenes…from partnering with local social enterprise Greenacres Disability Services to championing accessibility and inclusivity at every step.
With thoughtful design, comfortable facilities, and features that make the airport welcoming for everyone, Shellharbour Airport is setting a new standard for regional travel.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update. Don't forget between our updates you'll find us on socials - head over to follow us onLinkedInand you'll also find us onInstagram. We also encourage you to share our updates with your networks, simply forward this email and they can register here.
Talk soon, The DSSS team
Destination Sydney Surrounds South acknowledges the Aboriginal Nations and Aboriginal People of the Sydney Surrounds South region as the traditional carers and custodians of the land that we all now live and work on. We pay our respect to Elders past and present. Destination Sydney Surrounds South values the diversity of this region and works in partnership with local Aboriginal communities to respectfully celebrate and share Aboriginal culture with visitors to the region and also with locals who live here.
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