Central Coast Council is gearing up for what promises to be one of the busiest summer tourist seasons on record.
Visitor numbers for the region have boomed during spring and throughout the traditionally quieter winter months, providing a welcome boost to local businesses hit hard by the impacts of bushfires and COVID-19.
Central Coast Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, said visitors from Sydney and across Australia are heading to the Coast.
“Over this year’s October long weekend some of our key attractions saw numbers up by as much as 300 percent and most accommodation was fully booked,” Vaughan said.
“This follows on from consistently strong tourism numbers for the Coast since April – year-on-year growth of 20 percent or higher across key indicators like restaurant and retail spend as well as AirBnB occupancy rates.
“Every indicator suggests this summer on the Coast will be abuzz and Council has taken steps to prepare for the influx of visitors to our beautiful region.
“If you head to any of our 15 patrolled beaches you will hear safety announcements, including reminders to be COVID-safe, and we’re rolling out heightened management of bins and public amenities.”
Mayor Lisa Matthews said the diverse appeal of the Central Coast is hard to beat.
“Our stunning beaches, breathtaking bushland and picturesque hinterland region are at the heart of what makes the Coast so magnetic, but we’re also blessed with so many hidden gems that we’re encouraging visitors and locals to explore,” Cr Matthews said.
“The Coast has become a foodies paradise – we have great local produce and a vibrant dining scene across the region – and we’re also hard to beat for boutique shopping and adventure activities.
“With international travel off the cards for the time being, we’re taking the time to discover and rediscover our own backyard and it’s no surprise that our spectacular region is at the top of the list.
“It is important that we are all patient and kind this summer, keeping ourselves and others safe is what is most important.”
A new destination brand for the Central Coast was launched in 2020 to promote the region as a vibrant, magnetically attractive place to live, work and play.
Source:
Media release, Oct 28
Central Coast Council