The tourism industry, a major value-add to regional economies, is facing challenges. Photo: Visit Southern Highlands.
Through the havoc wreaked on hospitality businesses by the pandemic, devastating natural disasters and a shifting economic landscape, Bermagui’s food hub Eastwood’s has not only survived, it’s quintupled in size.
There’s no secret sauce, other than those in the kitchen, but owner and chef Kelly Eastwood has gained valuable insights along the way, which she will share at the upcoming Regional Development Australia Southern NSW & ACT (RDASNA) Regional Tourism Roundtable.
This strategic forum brings together national, regional and local tourism stakeholders to shape the future of the visitor economy in southern NSW and ACT.
“Strictly speaking, we’re not in the tourism space, but we’ve noticed the big issues faced in our region, such as housing, workforce, infrastructure, climate change and transport,” RDASNA northern regional development manager Gill Elphinston says.
“They are having a significant impact on one of our major value-add industries to our regional economy — the tourism industry.
“RDASNA has partnered with the ACT Government, the Canberra Region Tourism Leaders Forum and both NSW destination networks, and formed an advisory committee of tourism experts to bring a powerhouse of relevant knowledge into the room.
“Critically, that includes people at the coalface of the issues, like Kelly Eastwood.”
Once a private chef and then a TV food producer for shows such as MasterChef, Better Homes and Gardens and River Cottage Australia, Kelly is now a resident on the Far South Coast of NSW.
Eastwood’s Bermagui looks very different from what it did five years ago. The business started as a cooking school and café, but the 2020 fires hit the South Coast, forcing Kelly to pivot.
“They hit at the peak time of year, when many tourism and hospitality businesses make the money that sets them up for the rest of the year,” Kelly says.
After turning their kitchen into a disaster relief hub, Eastwood’s pivoted again during COVID to deliver ready meals. Today, its door-to-door component services the aged care and NDIS sectors, delivers to local supermarkets and collaborates with Meals on Wheels.
This adaptiveness has grown the business 400 per cent in five years.
“At this roundtable, I’ll be looking to share some of the challenges I’ve faced and insights I’ve gained along the way.”
RDASNA wants to hear directly from the operators at the heart of the tourism industry. Photo: Visit Hilltops Region.
Talks in the morning and roundtable discussions in the afternoon will explore key challenges facing visitor economies, including housing, workforce, infrastructure, climate change and transport.
This includes a keynote address from Rocky Trail Entertainment managing director Martin Wisata, a leading force in Australia’s trail and nature-based tourism scene, who is driving major projects such as the 125 km Mogo Trails network on the NSW South Coast.
Attendees will indicate the roundtable topics they’re most interested in contributing to.
“I’ll be very interested to see what comes out of the climate change discussion, because so many of us who went through the bushfires or have been declared a flood zone are paying through the nose for minimal insurance, and it’s not sustainable,” Kelly says.
“I’m also interested in hearing what people have to say about their supply chain challenges, and how the short-let market is impacting their workforce.”
Visitor economy operators and innovators like Kelly will join experts at facilitated roundtable discussions to explore deep and meaningful ideas and devise practical solutions the industry can implement immediately.
A consultant will also develop a comprehensive outcomes report that attendees will receive, tying together all discussion findings, real regional data and potential solutions for each challenge.
Attendees will also drive change beyond the room. RDASNA will leverage its seat at the tables of all three levels of government to push for action.
“We want to know from people in the industry, what are your challenges now? And what do you want to see change?” Gill says.
“For instance, one restaurateur outside Canberra was struggling to hire a chef, so they went through the efforts and expense of sponsoring a Skilled Migrant Visa that cost the business close to $20,000, only to have that person resign as soon as they gained permanent residency.
“An immediate solution businesses could put into place might be around employment contracts that require hires to pay back Visa expenses if they don’t stay with the business for a certain minimum time, but longer term, we would lobby the Federal Government to review its migration policy.
“These are the kinds of real issues, and real solutions, we’re targeting at this event.”
Have your voice heard at the RDA Southern NSW and ACT Regional Tourism Roundtable on Wednesday, 19 November, from 10 am to 4 pm at Old Parliament House.
