Byron Bay tourism in the spotlight

A NEW focus on accessibility, sustainability and funding will shape this year’s Destination Byron Tourism Symposium, to be held at the Byron Community Centre on October 23.

The annual event is the most significant on the calendar for local tourism association Destination Byron, bringing together stakeholders from across the region’s visitor economy.

This year’s speaker line-up includes sustainability expert Professor Sara Dolnicar, renowned for her research into Airbnb, and economist Clifford Bennett.

Award-winning marketer Jess Ruhfus will offer advice on forming successful partnerships, while adaptive surfing champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart will share his experiences following Byron’s hosting of the BrightSky Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championships in May.

Destination Byron board member and founder of Northern Rivers destination management company Agent 86 Experiences, Petrina Maxwell, said she believed this year’s line-up was the strongest yet.

“Historically it has been very hotel heavy and this year we wanted to connect our other members,” she said.

“We wanted a program that addressed lots of different areas, not just hospitality.

“It’s a chance for all of our members and non-members to come together and see some fantastic speakers, do some workshops and spend some time navel gazing about our visitor economy, where it currently is and where we’d like it to be.”

“What he has managed to achieve in the accessibility and inclusivity space around festivals and events in a relatively short period of time is quite remarkable,” Maxwell said of Stewart.

This year’s theme, ‘Thriving Together: Building the Future for Byron Bay’, reflects Destination Byron’s renewed commitment to managing a sustainable visitor economy that benefits the wider community.

“We have some fresh blood on the board and we’re pretty fired up about the Shire and really making an impact for our members,” Maxwell said.

A funding workshop will also be held, focusing on practical models to support Destination Byron’s future initiatives.

“Whilst it’s one of Australia’s most-visited regional areas and on the global stage we have no funding,” Maxwell said.

Insights from the symposium will help inform Byron Shire Council’s Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2020–2030, the long-term plan for managing tourism over the next decade.

Sponsors of this year’s symposium include Gold Sponsor Byron Community Centre, and Silver Sponsors Crystal Castle, Byron Golf Club, Ballina Byron Airport, Wake Up, Tree House, Crystalbrook Byron, BASQ House, Elements of Byron, Cape Byron Kayaks and Business NSW. For more information and tickets, byroncentre.com.au