Last week Camden Haven Chamber committee member Marisha Ewart attended the virtual Australia Regional Tourism Convention 2020. Unsurprisingly, the program was heavily focused on the recovery of tourism in regional Australia from bushfires and COVID-19.
 
As a member of the Camden Haven Tourism Marketing Co-operative and the Camden Haven representative on the Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association, Marisha is pleased to share the below key learnings with the tourism industry and wider business community in the Camden Haven.

Uncertainty and ever-changing restrictions have taken their toll on tourism operators across Australia so mental health was a big topic of conversation. The key messages were:

• Focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do – even if it means just making yourself a cup of tea!
• Take care of yourself first so you can take care of those around you.
• Set yourself short term goals (daily), focus on and celebrate the small wins.

While international border restrictions are expected to remain in place for some time, research by Tourism Research Australia has found that international visitors’ intention to visit Australia has increased.
 
International visitors are now looking for destinations where they can have confidence that they will be safe. That is, destinations where there are less people and where there are high standards of hygiene and healthcare. Australia’s response to managing the COVID-19 pandemic has provided international visitors with the confidence that Australia is a safe place to visit when international borders re-open.
 
How can you prepare for the return of international visitors?

• Build your online presence (Google My Business, Facebook, Instagram, website)
• Get export ready – contact the Destination and Culture Team at PMHC 

Regional, coastal destinations like the Camden Haven stand to benefit from the new demands of domestic travellers.

A domestic travel survey by Associate Professor Gabby Walters (University of Queensland) has found:

• The number 1 travel motivator is ‘To support the local tourism industry to recover’.
• There is a strong preference for ‘coastal’ and ‘regional’ destinations.
• The government is the number 1 go to source of information for COVID-19 related information.
• Visitor information centres and local tourism ambassador programs can play a vital role in providing safety information and assurance to visitors.

Similarly, research by Tourism Research Australia has found domestic visitors are looking for destinations and venues where there are:

• Flexible booking and cancellation policies
• Accredited procedures (such as cleaning procedures)
• Limits on the number of people
• Enforcement of social distancing

This research has also found, domestic travellers are most likely to be:

• Higher income earning families and older people
• From capital cities looking (Sydney)
• Looking for beach holidays, road trips and visiting friends and relatives

Just like mental health, community was a big topic of conversation. If there is one thing that bushfires and COVID-19 has taught us, it is that we are all in this together. In relation to tourism in particular, community is fundamental. Local residents (community) stand to be the key beneficiaries of tourism so working together to develop opportunities and improve our quality of life is essential. The Camden Haven community did an amazing job coming to together to support each other through the shock of bushfires and COVID-19. As we make our way through recovery, it’s important we don’t lose our strong community connection and that we work together on a shared vision for the Camden Haven for mutual benefit.

We hope this information has been useful to you and your business. Please don’t hesitate to contact Marisha via the details below for more information.
 
Marisha Ewart
Committee Member – Camden Haven Tourism Marketing Co-op
0400 467 848