REGIONAL NSW EVENT FUNDING

THE New South Wales Government has put forward $6 million in rural and regional event funding as part of its new regional conferencing plan.

The NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy & Action Plan (BEN 24 Jul) will aim to drive more conferences and visitors to rural & regional NSW.

Funding will go towards securing more conventions, meetings and business events.

As part of the plan, $500,000 has been set aside for a pilot grants program which will invest on a matched-dollar-for-dollar basis to attract business events to regional NSW.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the sector presented a big opportunity to grow outside of Sydney destinations across NSW.

“We want every conference planner to know that regional NSW can offer delegates both an opportunity to do business and the chance to explore our fantastic tourism offerings.”

The State’s regional conferencing industry is worth $145 million every year according to NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro.

“Through this strategy, we want to increase that contribution by bringing more conferences and visitors to regional NSW, and in turn boost local economies and create more jobs in our regional communities,” he said.

The plan also includes 11 strategic imperatives and 64 actions, which are now in place.

These include establishing a regional conferencing unit, a ‘Meet in Regional NSW’ website portal, developing a business events toolkit and more.