Archive for ◊ September, 2008 ◊

30 Sep 2008 Postcard 30/9/2008
Author: secretary |  Category: Postcard  | Tags:  | Leave a Comment

Well at least today is a little cooler and letting all those who took in too much sunshine over the past week or so get over their redness.

Remember slip, slop and slap in this sub tropical wonderland.

Some updates.

The new version of the television advertisement is now on the website (View Here) and it will soon be on the TV screens in our catchment areas.

As well the DVD is complete and you can catch the Ballina Tourism Montage section is on our site as well by clicking here to view.

This is only a section of the DVD and more will soon be viewable from our website. This Tourism Promotional Montage DVD is FREE for all members. So if you are not a member, why not join?

Remember tourism is arguably the region’s biggest employer and as well it attracts $100 million plus of new money into Ballina Coast and Hinterland each year. No matter what business you are in, tourism numbers have an effect on your bottom line.

22 Sep 2008 Postcard 22/09/2008
Author: secretary |  Category: General, Postcard  | Tags:  | Leave a Comment
Spring is definitely here!
Yesterday, the beaches were crowded with lots of swimmers, though not venturing out too far as the water has turned cold during the last week.

Maybe this is what is attracting the whales that seem in particularly close and have been putting on some fine displays as they head back south for their feed on krill to break their long fast and epic journey. Well worth a walk on the beach or a view from one of our many headlands. And a side benefit, the walk is healthy for you!

The shops around town have been busy with the Queensland holiday makers. Let us hope this continues for the NSW school break and beyond.

Elected Mayor and Councillors
We have taken a lot of time and effort over the last few weeks in meeting with and questioning Councillor and Mayoral Candidates, publishing their written responses on our Website http://www.tourismballina.com.au/ballina-council-candidates.html and watching with interest how the results have unfolded this week. Judging by the increased traffic to our website, I guess the whole Industry was interested in the outcomes. Did you miss the final results? Then you can see them here. http://www.tourismballina.com.au/ballina-couunil-election-results.html

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all candidates for their contributions and to congratulate those that got into office. There is certainly a mood for change with the prospect of so many new faces sitting in the Council Chamber.

We look forward to working with you all over the next four years on many of the critical areas identified and supported by yourselves in the eight questions asked. New perspectives and ideas came to the for and we thank you for that, as this gives us the incentive to move forward in making Ballina Coast & Hinterland a Top Tourism Destination, “that will ..take your breath away….”

Talking of that, the long awaited DVD has been completed and a taster can be found on our site by clicking here.
More excerpts will appear later as well as the entire DVD.
So ..
ARE YOU A MEMBER?
HAVE YOU PAID FOR 2008/2009 YET?
If so, then you will be notified shortly on where you can pick up your FREE COPY of this Ballina Coast and Hinterland Tourism Promotional DVD.

Not a member….. why not join the incorporated group that represents you? Television advertising is starting again soon and the web server has been running hot with visitations and follow ups for our tourism operator members.

Have a look at what we are about and have achieved or download our prospectus .

And expect more Melbournians…
Jetstar puts on more seats with daily routes from Melbourne

AUSTRALIA’S low fares airline Jetstar will expand to a daily service on its direct Ballina-Byron to Melbourne route from October 26, providing local jet-setters with more than double the seat availability.

Four extra A320 weekly return services by Jetstar will result in more than 1400 additional seats offered weekly into and out of Ballina-Byron Airport.

Read the latest from Tourism NSW Industry News Click Here .

From another perspective read what Don Page member for Ballina and Shadow Minister for Tourism has to say on the need to ensure continuation of regional funding for tourism now that the NSW State Government has had some changes to its line-up. There was $10.5 million promised over 3 years for regional tourism. Read more here…

Cheers for now,

Dave

DaVE Digital and Virtual Environments

14 Sep 2008 Postcard 14/09/2008
Author: secretary |  Category: General  | Tags:  | Leave a Comment
Ballina Council Election Update
These are the results (from Electoral Commission website) at close of election night counting for Ballina Shire Council.

These include Mayoral And all three wards.

Status: Final for Election Night

Dave
Secretary Tourism Ballina
04 Sep 2008 Postcard 04/09/2008
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Cold, Wet and Windy!

Winter has certainly made a jump to the beginning of spring.
Makes you appreciate the nice weather when we get it. Hopefully it should not last long.

Congratulations to the award winners from last Saturday’s Ballina Shire Business Excellence Awards.

  • Tourism Operation: Air T&G
  • Green: Tassiriki Ranch Horse Riding and Holiday Cabins
  • Agribusiness: House With No Steps
  • Food & Beverage: Blackboard at the Beach
  • Food & Beverage Cafe: Blossoms Cafe and Restaurant
The first three are members of Tourism Ballina Inc.
Council Candidate Questionnaire.
Those reluctant council candidates…..

As the Tourism Industry’s representative body, it is important that we understand the candidates’ views  on a business segment that adds $100 million plus of new monies to the Shire’s economy each year. An email containing tourism related questions was sent out mid August to all the Ballina Council Candidates who had supplied email addresses. A letter was also sent to all Candidates.

Tourism Ballina Inc was disappointed that only seven out of eighteen candidates have taken the trouble to answer our eight questions.

Is this an indication of their lack of support

for the Shire’s number one Industry – Tourism?

One further candidate has given us a verbal commentary, which we have not recorded and a further four have sent an acknowledgement, but no formal response.

One candidate sent their election propaganda but did not respond to any of the questions.

I have left space for those who have been slow to respond to send me their responses for this page.

Please send responses or comments to Dave Heggie (secretary@tourismballina.com.au) so that I can update this page.

It was also interesting to note that eight candidates could not be contacted by e-mail, but did receive the questionnaire by post.

You can read the questions and responses (and who didn’t) on Tourism Ballina’s website.

http://www.tourismballina.com.au/ballina-council-candidates.html
These responses will also be forwarded to the local media for further publication.

Some interesting reading and statistics gathered by Tourism Research Australia concerning tourism profiles for the Ballina Shire, these include international and domestic travel to our region.

These statistics will help us in our endeavour to lift the Ballina Coast and Hinterland’s profile. This document can be downloaded and read http://www.tourismballina.com.au/assets/ballina-lga.pdf

Tourism Ballina Inc is at present in negotiation with several television networks developing the best broadcasting times for our television commercial. Remember you can see it on our website at http://www.tourismballina.com.au/ad.html

We have just received an updated version of the advertisement and this will be incorporated in our promotional DVD soon for release to members.

On a last note, Rip Curl has postponed plans to host a one-off professional surfing event off Lennox Head next year.
It was not known yesterday why Rip Curl had delayed its plans, but Ballina Shire Council confirmed Rip Curl had instead earmarked the region for a 2010 or 2011 event.

Click here for September edition of NRT- INDUSTRY E News.

Unfortunately some existing members have neglected to update their membership. They will be deleted from the website shortly so PLEASE CONTACT DAVE URGENTLY if you are one of these. Remember we are the industries voice for tourism for Ballina.
Cheers for now
Dave

Dave Heggie (secretary@tourismballina.com.au)

PS Know somebody who might be interested in this newsletter, why not forward using the forward link below. Be part of our effort with lifting the profile of Ballina!