Tweed tourism grows and Kingscliff breaks the top 10 towns list

THE Tweed Tourism Company has been awarded $30,500 in funding for 2025 to boost international visitation and strengthen local tourism business training.

The Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) will also provide an additional $43,000 in 2026, representing potential matched funding from the Federal Government’s Austrade.

Tweed Tourism Company General Manager Sally Scott said the funding grant was a unique opportunity to build The Tweed’s profile and readiness for more international visitation.

“The funding will contribute to key initiatives for our tourism industry in 2025 and beyond, including mentoring programs, capacity-building workshops, international representation and broader international market readiness development,” Scott said.

“This valued support via Austrade aligns closely with our Destination Management Plan, ensuring that The Tweed continues to grow sustainably while attracting high-value international visitors who stay longer and engage deeply with our region.

“By equipping our tourism operators with the skills, knowledge and access they need to reach international markets, we’re not only strengthening individual businesses but also reinforcing The Tweed’s position as a must-visit destination for overseas visitors,” she said.

Recent visitor data showed a 5.5 per cent rise to 25,899 international visitors staying an average of 10 nights in the region.

 

The grant will fund programs to support tourism operators in developing global markets through marketing initiatives, promotion, and training to enhance international market readiness.

In addition to the funding boon, Wotif has announced the winners of its 2025 Aussie Town of the Year Awards,

Among them was Kingscliff, which claimed 8th spot in the Top 10. The awards recognise trending Australian destinations based on Wotif’s data index of affordability, quality, and traveller satisfaction.

Scott said it was a bonus to have Kingscliff highlighted, and the accolade reaffirmed the seaside spot as a must-visit destination.

“Kingscliff effortlessly blends quintessential beach holiday ambience with a relaxed local scene, helping visitors to feel immediately at home as they hop from cafe to beach,” she said.

“The town packs a lot in a small footprint, with aquatic adventures and coastal trails to relaxed picnics and chef-hatted dining, all within easy reach.

“To have Kingscliff’s enduring appeal as one of Australia’s best towns backed by Wotif’s new data index is a further call to all holidaymakers to visit the Tweed in 2025.”