Byron Bay tourism subject of national research
Byron Bay has been selected as one of 23 destinations to be included in a nationwide research project designed to assist in the development, marketing and management of regional tourism destinations.
The project is being run by the Australian Regional Tourism Research Centre (ARTRC), a partnership between Southern Cross University and the Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre.
The centre was launched today by the Federal Minister for Tourism, Fran Bailey, in the Yarra Valley. The Minister is also announcing two significant projects – the Sustainable Regional Tourism Destination Project and the Farm and Country Tourism on your Property.
South Cross University says the ARTRC is supported by the Australian Regional Tourism Network (ARTN) and Tourism Australia. It is a dedicated research centre, based at SCU’s Lismore campus, focusing on sustainable tourism and industry development in regional Australia. It has conducted more than $2 million worth of research, much of which has been focused on industry development and extension programs.
The Sustainable Regional Tourism Destination Project is a nationwide study being co-ordinated by the Deputy Director of the ARTRC, Meredith Lawrence, in partnership with eight researchers from four university partners from the Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre (STCRC).
The three-year project will include case studies of up to 23 individual destinations covering all States and Territories including places such as Byron Bay, Shark Bay in WA, Alice Springs and the Murray River.
“The Sustainable Regional Tourism Destination Project will provide government, industry and community stakeholders with practical guidance on best practice principles for the sustainable development, marketing and management of regional tourism destinations,” Ms Lawrence said.
“Once the research is complete, practical tools and resources such as tool-kits, best practice guidelines or manuals will be developed to assist operators, local government and communities to better plan and market their region as a tourism destination.”
The second major project, Farm and Country Tourism on your Property (FACT), has been developed by the Sustainable Tourism CRC to assist existing rural landholders and farmers to successfully assess the viability of diversifying into agri or nature-based tourism.
Rose Wright, Extension Officer for the ARTRC, will be holding workshops in partnership with local and regional agencies throughout 2006 to introduce participating rural landholders to the tourism industry and how it works.
“This business development program will assist participants to develop their tourism concepts, introduce them to the tourism industry and assist them to research and develop their business plan to provide them with a greater chance of success and a smoother path in their transition from traditional agriculture into the new world of agri-tourism,” Mrs Wright said.
Both projects are being funded through the Sustainable Tourism CRC.
Ballina Info’s comment: This project should have a spin-off for Ballina Shire. Byron Bay might have the nightlife and the party-town reputation, but our shire can provide other alternatives such as great fishing, a bigger range of surf spots, the Richmond River, and we’ll soon have an international class hotel with the development of the Ramada site. And of course, we have the means of getting the tourists here — the airport.
June 2nd, 2006 at 8:58 pm
Your not wrong Barry!
Ballina really is a hidden treasure that is just starting to explode. Byron can have all of the drunken idots, we will take the quality visitors.
One thing that I believe this holding Ballina back as the amount of quality activities available by tourism operators, but I guess that will soon change.