Central Coast Council’s tourism marketing arm, Destination Central Coast, recently held the region’s first international showcase unveiling the region to a world-wide audience.
The event, Meet Your Central Coast, was held at Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures and showcased the Central Coast as an ECO destination with nature-based experiences, 4–5-star accommodation and venues, food and wine tastings.
Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreational Services Melanie Smith said the collaboration presented the region as a united front as part of Destination Central Coast’s strategy to drive tourism from international markets which brings $39.6M in expenditure into the region annually.
“It was fantastic to be able to showcase our world class Central Coast businesses, including the fact they are only an hour’s drive from Sydney, to a very discerning group of global tourism operators,” Smith said.
Throughout the day, eight Central Coast tourism operators impressed the visiting group with an engaging array of activations to provide just a taste of what Central Coast has to offer inbound groups.
The program featured quad bike and horseback riding with Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures, a pearl and oyster mini masterclass with Broken Bay Pearl Farm, animal encounters with the Australian Reptile Park and Iris Lodge Alpacas, and a chocolate and wine tasting by Firescreek Botanical Winery.
Premium accommodation venues – Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific, Encore by Mingara and the upcoming voco® Gosford – also presented, highlighting their international standard accommodation.
Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures Business Development Manager Nathan Murray described the showcase as a real milestone.
“It was fantastic to have so many international operators in the room and to be able to showcase, and show off, our unique venue and offerings,” he said.
“I think we proved this region isn’t just a stopover; it’s a destination in its own right, and we’re ready to welcome the world.”
Smith said tourism operators have now begun arranging their own on-site familiarisation events to offer agents a first-hand taste of their product and tour offerings to continue building relationships with international distributors.
The Central Coast is now Ecotourism certified under Ecotourism Australia’s globally recognised ECO Destination Certification, and is one of only 11 regions in Australia to hold this recognition in sustainable tourism.
Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the certification strengthens the Central Coast’s reputation as a leading eco-conscious destination which helps to attract even more visitors each year.
“We’ve held an ECO destination status for the past two years, and it cements our ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism, responsible visitor experiences, and the protection of natural and cultural assets in partnership with our community and tourism operators,” McKinna said.
“We were immensely proud to host the recent inaugural showcase to support growth in international tourism and help put the Central Coast on the global map.
“It strongly reflects the collaborative effort between Council and tourism operators whose collective aim is to see economic growth for the local economy, which will support more jobs and opportunities.”
don’t take them to The Entrance it’s disgraceful. so many locals are so dissatisfied with how it looks. hardly any shops open the old theatre has been closed for years and breaks my heart to see it now.
ive just published a book on Arboristry in Australia