August Southern Snapshot: new Chair, new grants, regional wins
Banner Image: Couple on an oyster tasting experience on the waters of Merimbula Lake with Merimbula Oyster Tours. | Credit: Destination NSW
Message from the General Manager
Across Southern NSW, August has been a month of recognition and momentum. Thredbo has become the first destination in the Asia-Pacific to achieve EarthCheck Platinum certification, Sea Otter Australia and Region X were celebrated at the Outdoor Industry Awards, and Alkira Aldridge has been named a finalist in the NSW Top Tour Guide Awards, each a sign of the growing strength and diversity of our visitor economy.
This edition also brings together new opportunities to grow, from nine Southern NSW events securing funding through the Regional Event Fund to Twofold Aboriginal Corporation's new Giiyong Ganya event and a range of grants and business development opportunities for operators across the region.
I'm also pleased to welcome Yasmin Coe as our new Board Chair, who will represent Destination Southern at the Canberra Region Tourism Leaders Forum on 6 August, continuing our work of listening, coordinating and advocating on behalf of operators across Southern NSW.
Read on to discover insights and resources, including:
On the Ground – Destination Southern across the region.
Industry Insights – research, trends and sector updates.
Upskill & Connect – training and development opportunities.
Opportunities to Grow – grants, funding and business support.
Destination Southern is pleased to announce the appointment of Yasmin Coe as Chair. A respected tourism operator and owner of Sweet Pea & Poppy and Murrumbateman Chocolate Co., Yasmin has served on the Destination Southern Board since 2024, bringing extensive industry experience and a strong commitment to Southern NSW's visitor economy.
Yasmin said she was "honoured to be stepping into the role of Chair, Destination Southern," and thanked former Chair Kalina Koloff for her leadership, adding that Southern NSW's greatest strength is its people — the passionate operators, producers and communities who create memorable visitor experiences every day.
Yasmin will represent Destination Southern at theCanberra Region Tourism Leaders Forum (CRTLF) on 6 August, speaking on the region's potential for growth in food, wine and events, and sharing her perspective as both a Destination Network board member and an active tourism operator. The free forum brings together leaders across tourism, hospitality, business and the arts to discuss opportunities for the Canberra region and surrounds.
Giiyong Festival to Become Biennial as Twofold Aboriginal Corporation Launches Giiyong Ganya
Twofold Aboriginal Corporation has announced that Giiyong Festival, first established in 2018, will become a biennial event, with a new alternate-year program, Giiyong Ganya, to be presented for the first time this year on Saturday 28 November 2026 at Jigamy on Thaua Country, just north of Eden NSW.
Nathan Lygon playing didgeridoo, Giiyong Festival 2025 | Credit: David Rogers
Thredbo Becomes First Destination in Asia-Pacific to Achieve EarthCheck Platinum Certification
The milestone recognises 10 consecutive years of independently audited environmental, social and governance performance, reflecting Thredbo's long-term commitment to sustainable destination management. Over the past decade, the resort has implemented initiatives including transitioning to 100% renewable electricity and regional partnerships that support environmental stewardship.
A couple walking across the bridge into Thredbo Village. | Credit: Destination NSW
Southern NSW Operators Shine at the Outdoor Industry Awards
Congratulations to Sea Otter Australia, winner of Adventure Event of the Year, and Region X, recognised as Highly Commended in the Outdoor Industry Organisation of the Year category. A fantastic result for the Destination Southern region and a sign of the growing strength of our outdoor and adventure tourism sector.
Recipients and finalists holding their awards during the 2026 Gala in Jervis Bay. | Credit: Outdoors NSW & ACT
Local Guide Named NSW Top Tour Guide Finalist
Destination Southern congratulates Alkira Aldridge from Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council on being named a finalist in the 2026 NSW Top Tour Guide Awards, recognised for her leadership in cultural tourism, mentoring staff, caring for Country and sharing Aboriginal culture with visitors. Winners will be announced on 12 August.
Alkira with her mingu | Credit: Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council
Nine Southern NSW events have secured funding through the 2026/27 Regional Event Fund.
Congratulations to the organisers, councils and industry partners whose hard work has been recognised through this funding. We look forward to seeing these events continue to grow and deliver benefits for local communities and the regional visitor economy. Read more about the successful recipients →
Incubator Events: New events in their first or second year
Barragga Yangga (Bega Valley)
Southern Voices (Goulburn Mulwaree)
Sea Otter Australia Festival (Eurobodalla)
Tarago Medieval Faire (Goulburn Mulwaree)
Flagship Events: Events running for more than two years
Snowies Multisport Festival (Snowy Monaro)
Steampunk Goulburn (Goulburn Mulwaree)
EAT Festival Sapphire Coast (Bega Valley)
Crank It Up Batemans Bay (Eurobodalla)
WinterSun Festival (Bega Valley)
Barragga Yangga: Meaning 'Many Songs' in traditional Dhurga language, a powerful celebration of First Nations language, story and song on the South Coast. | Credit: David Rogers Photography.
Would you like to share your new product, experience or event? Contact your Industry Development Manager to learn more.
Regional NSW Marketing Strategy
Destination NSW has launched a new Regional NSW Marketing Strategy, using data-driven insights and authentic storytelling to connect visitors with regional NSW's coastal escapes, nature-based adventures, and food, wine and cultural experiences. Phase one showcases Byron Bay, the Barrington Coast, Shoalhaven, Sapphire Coast and Port Stephens, with future phases set to expand the campaign further.
If you sell seafood dishes for immediate consumption, whether it’s eaten at your venue, taken away, or delivered, you must inform customers where the seafood comes from.
From 1 July 2026, to avoid penalties, you will need to label dishes containing seafood with country of origin information using the AIM labelling system:
Australian or (A)
Imported or (I)
Mixed origin or (M)
This new information standard under the Australian Consumer Law helps your customers to make an informed choice about the seafood they eat.
Share how trading conditions, fuel supply issues and the Middle East conflict are affecting your business in the Canberra Region Tourism Business Activity Survey. Delivered by the Australian Tourism Industry Council with the Canberra Region Tourism Industry Council, responses are confidential and help build a clearer picture of industry conditions to share with government and industry.
In June 2026, TRA released the Visitor Economy Benchmark Report 2025, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the performance of Australia's visitor economy at the national, state and territory level. The report brings together key tourism demand, supply, investment, labour force and economic indicators into a single publication, providing stakeholders with a central reference point for monitoring industry performance.
Tourism Research Australia’s State and Regional Tourism Satellite Accounts (Sub-National TSA) 2024–25 are now available, providing the latest figures for tourism’s economic contribution across Australia’s states, territories and 76 tourism regions. The release includes measures of visitor consumption, gross value added (GVA), gross state/regional product (GSP/GRP) and tourism employment.
National data provides context, noting that local conditions may vary across subregions.
Accessible Tourism Value Exchange
Host a familiarisation visit for a small group of blind or low-vision travellers, delivered with Sensory Tourism Australia and Cocky Guides. In exchange, your business gets practical feedback from travellers with lived experience — strengthening accessibility and staff confidence for a growing visitor market.
Register your informal EOI to receive the project prospectus by contacting your local Industry Development Manager:
Applications are open for the Certificate III in Guiding – Cultural Tourism (SIT30322), delivered face-to-face at TAFE NSW Bega — the only face-to-face delivery of this course in NSW in 2026. ABSTUDY support may be available.
Aboriginal Experiences and Events Engagement Project (EOI)
Aboriginal-owned tourism businesses, creative practitioners, artists and cultural arts organisations can take part in interviews and yarning circles helping shape the future of Aboriginal visitor experiences across NSW, delivered by Murawin on behalf of Destination NSW.
Community Transport Pilot Program (Bega Valley trial)
A Transport for NSW-funded pilot, delivered by Coast and Country Community Services, helps students, apprentices and trainees overcome transport barriers to study, training and employment — relevant for tourism businesses supporting regional workforce development.
Expressions of interest are open for the NSW Women's Week Grants, funded and administered by Women NSW. Grants of $10,000 to $50,000 support innovative events held during Women's Week (2–8 March 2027) that empower women and girls and advance gender equality. Eligible not-for-profits, ACCOs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations can apply, with events in rural, regional and remote NSW prioritised.
Expressions of interest are now open for businesses interested in co-exhibiting with Destination NSW at the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) 2027 — the leading business events trade show in the Asia Pacific, connecting exhibitors with domestic and international buyers and event planners. It's an opportunity for tourism businesses to showcase their products and help grow business events visitation to Southern NSW. 15–17 February 2027 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Applications for the Clubgrants Category 3 Fund open on 27 July, offering grants of $50,000 to $300,000 for infrastructure projects across arts and culture, disaster readiness, sport and recreation, and community infrastructure. Organisations that deliver recreation and visitor infrastructure, including many mountain bike clubs and rail trail associations across Southern NSW, may find this particularly relevant. Destination Southern can provide support through the application process and, where appropriate, a letter of support.
Applications are open for the Amex Shop Small Grants program, delivered by Mainstreet Australia in partnership with American Express. Up to 100 grants of $20,000 are available nationally to help eligible small business owners fund projects that grow and innovate their business and support their local community, with additional grants unlocked through eligible Amex Shop Small transactions made 1–7 August 2026.
Destination Southern is one of seven Destination Networks funded by the NSW Government to strengthen the visitor economy across Southern NSW. Guided by our Board and small regionally-based team, we focus on four key activities that deliver local and regional impact:
Whilst we provide strategy, advocacy and coordination, and build industry capacity and capability to support long-term visitor economy growth, consumer marketing is delivered by councils and Destination NSW.
Acknowledgement of Country
Destination Southern NSW acknowledges the many Aboriginal Nations and Aboriginal People of the Southern NSW region as the traditional carers and custodians of the land that we all now live and work on. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. Destination Southern NSW values the diversity of this region and works in partnership with local Aboriginal communities to respectfully celebrate and share Aboriginal culture with visitors to the region and also with locals who live here.
Destination Southern NSW Ltd is supported by the NSW Government and Destination NSW
Destination Southern, PO Box 1025, Goulburn, NSW 2580, Australia
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