$96,000 in funding has been allocated for local tourism projects and businesses in Port Macquarie as part of a wider package of $250,000 in funding to develop tourism across the Mid North Coast.
Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park, Sea Acres Rainforest Centre and the Observatory Resort have been awarded funding to further develop the visitor experience in Port Macquarie and increase the range of tourism activities and attractions in the Mid North Coast.
The funding for Tourism Mid North Coast was announced by Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams MP, on Monday on behalf of Minister for Tourism and Events, George Souris, adding that eight tourism projects across the Mid North Coast have been granted funding from the NSW Government’s $5 million Regional Tourism Product Development Funding Program.
The Destination NSW funding is set to enable Port Macquarie businesses to develop their business to enhance visitor experiences and boost tourism to the local area.
The Observatory in Port Macquarie will receive $11,000 for the purchase of bicycles for hire with trails maps and iPod audio tours.
Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park will receive $50,000 to build an estuarine crocodile exhibit.
Sea Acres Rainforest Centre: National Parks and Wildlife Service will receive $35,000 for Sea Acres Spirit of the Land, a multimedia storytelling journey of the Birpai people and the iconic natural environments of the Hastings region.
Mr Souris said the $250,000 funding for the mainland regional tourism organisations in NSW is designed to attract more visitors to places like Port Macquarie.
Mr Souris said the value of tourism in regional NSW is more than $8.7 billion in overnight visitor expenditure, based on 17.5 million overnight visitors.
“Regional NSW is at the heart of our goal of doubling overnight tourism expenditure in NSW by 2020,” Mr Souris said.
Executive Officer of Mid North Coast Tourism Belinda Novicky said this tourism development funding will revive existing attractions and result in some new experiences for visitors coming to the Mid North Coast, which is great for tourism across the region.
For more information on the approved projects, contact Mid North Coast Tourism: Belinda Novicky, Executive Officer,
02 6569 4058, northcoast tourism@bigpond.com.
For more information on the Regional Tourism Product Development Fund, contact Destination NSW: Shivanee Brigham, Corporate Communications,
02 9931 1564, shivanee.brigham@dnsw.gov.au.
