The last week has seen Destination NSW hosting Aussie Specialist agents on the far South Coast as part of Tourism Australia’s biennial travel trade event, Corroboree Asia. The event aims to educate and train frontline travel sellers across Asia on the many tourism products Australia has to offer, including the vast array of ‘NSW-only’ experiences. NSW is playing host to 60 Aussie Specialist agents from key eastern markets including China, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. “This is the largest number of Aussie Specialist agents NSW has ever hosted as part of the Corroboree Asia familiarisation program and I’m delighted they’ll be experiencing the beautiful far South Coast first-hand,” Member for Bega, Andrew Constance, said. “This is fantastic for our region and will further highlight the amazing part of Australia that we all call home. “From whale-watching tours, tasting fresh local seafood to discovering our stunning national parks and beaches, the familiarisation will provide international travel sellers with the chance to discover what’s on offer in our fantastic region so they can promote and sell our wonderful far South Coast to their clients back home,” said Mr Constance. "Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the Government is determined to keep NSW as Australia’s number one tourism and events destination and it’s initiatives such as this that help maintain our dominant position. “The NSW tourism industry is a serious industry worth serious money and this special promotional program allows us to continue to grow the State’s visitor economy, particularly in our regional areas,” Mr Marshall said. “We look forward to welcoming more visitors to the far South Coast a result of this visit which has been organised by the NSW Government in collaboration with Tourism Australia.” Corroboree Asia was held on the Gold Coast from 27 until 30 August 2018 and combines training workshops and familiarisation visits exclusively for qualified Aussie Specialist agents from Asia. Following the Corroboree event 60 Aussie Specialist agents were be split into five groups to experience NSW with a contingent visiting Wollongong, Kiama, Jervis Bay, Merimbula, Narooma and Batemans Bay. Other locations visited were Bowral, Berrima, Port Stephens, the Tweed, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Oberon,Sydney, Byron Bay, Hunter Valley, and the Blue Mountains. Local tour operator, VIP Private Tours, teamed up with Destination NSW and Tourism Australia to host Malaysian travel experts on an intense familiarisation tour of the NSW Far South Coast and Shoalhaven regions.
After landing in Merimbula, the guests travelled north over five days to sample some of the region’s best produce, accommodation, hospitality and visitor experiences.
Much to their delight they saw humpback whales, dolphins, kangaroos and albatross up close. The group sampled grass fed beef, freshly caught fish and squid, and oysters straight out of the water, stepped foot on Montague Island after a 900 horsepower thrilling ride to the island with local operator Wazza and toured the Clyde River in style and tasting the best oysters ever.
Above: Malaysian travel experts visit the South East NSW - photos courtesy of VIP Private Tours
Steve Picton of VIP Private Tours extends his thanks to the local partners on this highly successful tour: Merimbula Wharf Aquarium and Restaurant, Sapphire Waters Motor Inn, Merimbula Marina Whale Watching, The Waterfront Cafe Merimbula The Whale Motor Inn, Tilba Real Dairy, Montague Island Discovery Tours, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, The Quarterdeck Little House of Tunes in Narooma, Wray Street Oysters, Batemans Bay Houseboats, Batemans Bay Soldiers Club and Edgewater Gardens.
