Tools and Resources

The North Coast NSW Destination Management Plan 2022 – 2030 has been developed to guide industry on priority strategies and required actions that will drive the growth of the visitor economy at a regional level. The plan provides the foundations on which future local plans can be built and updated to provide a common vision. This document is an adaptable plan that will be reviewed annually by Destination North Coast in consultation with Destination NSW and industry stakeholders.

The DNC FY24/25 Business Plan outlines our strategic focus and key actions for the upcoming financial year, providing stakeholders with a clear vision of our priorities. While not exhaustive, this plan highlights critical initiatives designed to bolster the visitor economy on the North Coast and support the region in achieving its long-term objectives. We invite you and your organisation to engage with us if any information or actions within this plan are of interest.

The North Coast is the number one region for tourism in regional NSW. We believe for this success to be sustained that we need to have a shared vision and understanding of the Value of Tourism to ensure that we continue to evolve the perception of the region whilst improving the visitor experience and maximising the visitor economy.

The 2023 Calendar Year data provides a timely reflection on the importance of visitation to the region’s Gross Value Add, to local jobs and that the visitor economy supports and sustains many businesses across the region.

Review archived 2022 Value of Tourism 
Review archived 2021 Value of Tourism.
Review archived 2019 Value of Tourism.
Review archived 2018 Value of Tourism.

Get Connected is Destination NSW’s website membership program. Simple and easy to use Get Connected membership is free and is open to all tourism operators within New South Wales.

With Get Connected, Destination NSW gives you the opportunity to showcase your tourism products on Destination NSW consumer websites FREE of charge and tap into over 1.8 million potential customers a month, both domestic and international – that’s 22 million people a year who are looking for tourism products.

Details of this and other online opportunities offered by Destination NSW can be found here.

The Destination North Coast Business Accelerator & Mentoring Program was delivered by Sparrowly Group via funding through Destination North Coast and the Australian Government through the Recovery for Regional Tourism Grant.

As part of the Business Accelerator & Mentoring Program a series of free business tools and resources have been developed specifically to support North Coast tourism businesses and comprise workshop-style webinars, factsheets and templates. Topics include: Business Planning Fundamentals, Maximising your ATDW Listing, Maximising your Distribution Plan, Knowing Your Numbers, Making Your Business Accessible and a bonus Website Marketing Masterclass.

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Northern Rivers businesses are encouraged to embrace the NorthernRiversNSW brand as a symbol a new economic and cultural era for one of New South Wales’s oldest, diverse and alluring regions, representing the Northern Rivers of NSW, from the Tweed border to the Clarence Valley.

The Northern Rivers NSW Brand ties these communities together, connecting a population in excess of 250,000. Physically connected by the rivers of northern NSW, these communities are now connected by a common brand demonstrating tangible scale.

Find more information on the NorthernRiversNSW brand project which DNC supported.

Destination North Coast, Bellingen Shire Council and Coffs Harbour City Council engaged the University of Newcastle to conduct a landmark study into Australia’s proposed first large national park dedicated to protecting koalas. The study has projected additional regional economic output of $1.2 billion over the next 15 years and $1.7 billion in biodiversity value. The proposed Great Koala National Park will add 175,000 hectares of native state forests to existing protected areas to establish a 315,000-hectare reserve on the NSW Mid North Coast. The site, which includes two koala metapopulations, would protect an area that is home to around 20 per cent of the NSW koala population habitat.

The research by the University of Newcastle examined the economic impact over the next 15 years estimating expenditure across three stages: park establishment, park management and visitor expenditure. The study predicts that over the next 15 years the Park is projected to generate more than 9,800 extra full-time equivalent jobs across tourism, infrastructure, and science and education, and inject $330 million in additional wages into the region.

The final report can be viewed/downloaded here

Building partnerships will provide help with resources, marketing and advice.

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Media and industry operators can search and download images for free from Destination NSW’s image library. The collection is constantly being updated and includes great images of city and regional destinations, experiences and events.