As Eurobodalla Council’s tourism team prepares to take the shire’s destination marketing in a new direction, latest tourism data shows visitation appears to have improved in the December 2018 Quarter (latest figures).
It is understood that the Eurobodalla Council has several strategies either adopted or in the pipeline setting out what they believe will be tangible actions to boost tourism and ultimately the local economy in the areas of destination marketing, events, nature-based tourism and signage and wayfinding, to name a few. Council also continues to work with the Port Authority of NSW to establish a regular timetable of luxury cruise ships visiting Batemans Bay.
Three cruise ships are set to visit Batemans Bay for the 2019/20 cruise season – the Caledonian Sky in October 2019, and the Seabourn Encore in February and March 2020.
It is hoped a recent familiarisation tour organised for representatives from Abercrombie & Kent Luxury Holidays and Travel – the organisation contracted to provide onshore tours for the Seabourn cruise line – will bring further benefits.
Council’s tourism manager Karen Dempster said the whistle-stop tour involved meetings with 15 tourism operators in the Batemans Bay, Narooma and Tilba regions.
“The famil showcased local operators that are market ready to provide unique experiences and offerings to international cruise passengers,” she said.
“They were amazed at what they experienced. I think we succeeded in showing them there is more to Eurobodalla than just the beach and being Canberra’s closest port. From here, the agency will work directly with the operators to develop tours to offer passengers while they’re here in the 2019/20 cruise season.”
Above: An electric bicycle tour of Narooma was just one of the local tourism experiences showcased on the recent famil tour. Pictured is Deb Meers from Abercrombie and Kent’s cruise agency AKORN, Natalie Godward from the Port Authority of NSW, AKORN work experience student Imogen Webster, Claire Nuthall from Abercrombie and Kent’s cruise agency AKORN, Eurobodalla Council’s tourism manager Karen Dempster and Southbound Escapes’ Chloe Mulder and Corallee Vimpani.
