About Tourism Ballina Inc

Who and what is Tourism Ballina Inc.? We are the Private Sector Tourism Industry’s Membership body, driving the growth of Ballina Coast & Hinterland tourism businesses.

 

Committee 2009/10 Members:

• President Jason Mumford - The Point Ballina 66181188
• Deputy President, Treasurer & Public Officer Paul Ferguson Ballina Colonial Motel 6686 7691
• Secretary and Press Officer Dave Heggie Digital and Virtual Environments 6619 2470

Committee Members

• Gary Crane NR Trike and Bike Tours 0407 516 669
• Rik Dillon – Amaze ‘n’ Place 6628 7518
• Peter Mehan – Wollongbar TAFE 6620 4700
• Nick Breen-Kurucsev Public Image Productions 6686 0879

 

Who and what is Tourism Ballina Inc.?

We are the Private Sector Tourism Industry’s Membership body, driving the growth of Ballina Coast & Hinterland tourism businesses

Our vision isthat Ballina Coast & Hinterland will be a destination popular with Australian and overseas visitors who want to enjoy the region’s man-made and natural attractions along the coast and in the hinterland.

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Long Term Strategies are:

• Rebrand and reposition the area as Ballina Coast & Hinterland
• Look for representation on NRT board
• Increase the range of promotional tools at the industry’s disposal
• Recognised as the Shire’s unified industry voice for Tourism
• Boost our Membership base and Stakeholder standing
• Continue to work with Council on Tourism Development strategies and funding

Objectives for 2009/10 are to:

• Work with Council on Signage Taskforce
• Promotion of Ballina Coast and Hinterland through TV Advertising
• Create a ‘Local Community Awareness Program’
• Look for opportunities to generate Grant Funding
• Establish (with Council) a Post By-Pass Promotional Sinking Fund
• Develop Website Virtual Tours
• Launch a ‘Signature Event’ (i.e. Tourism Week)
• Consider our Merchandising options
• Enter our Marketing Initiative for Tourism Award

Tourism Ballina Inc.’s Key Achievements Since 2004

• 2004
• Private tourism business operators formed a Steering Committee to establish objectives and      a vision to grow tourism business within Ballina Shire.
• Workshop to discussed how best to develop more business for Ballina tourism.
• The marketing name ‘Ballina Coast & Hinterland’ adopted.

• 2005
• Export Seminar held to help Tourism Operators market their products overseas.
• Workshop for new Ballina Coast & Hinterland Visitor Guide using our ‘brochure brief’.
• Tourism Partnership Forum brought together the Private and Public sectors, to join forces in driving tourism forward in the     area, establishing a working structure and lines of communication.

• 2006
• Membership Prospectus launched with a variable fee based on the size of business; fifty Tourism     Operators joined in the first year.
• ‘Growing our Business Together’ and ‘Marketing Planing’ Workshops held.
• Council’s ‘Rate Differential Funding’ provides $60,000 for promotional and marketing     opportunities.  
• Logo adopted and an outline for a Members Website established.
• Ran Members Promotional Trade Stand at the AIR Conference.

• 2007
• Our website www.tourismballina.com.au was launched.
• Web ‘tags’ and ‘links’ established with relevant search engines and websites.
• Representative meetings held with LEP planers, Northern Rivers Tourism and Tourism New South Wales as well as Ballina     Visitor Information Centre.
• Hinterland Expo held at House with No Steps
• Took part in the O’Neil Review of Tourism New South Wales.
• Tourism Ballina business cards produced and PO Box postal address established.

• 2008
  • Regular Newsletter e-mailed to Industry.
  • Consultation with Council on outcomes from their     Industry Conversations.
  • Production of a 30 sec. TV Commercial promoting the     Ballina Coast & Hinterland.
  • Represented Tourism Industry on Ballina Shire     Prospectus Steering Group.
  • Tourism Evenings held at various venues. o Launched     New Marketing Initiatives including, TV Commercial,     Slogan, Promotional DVD and Merchandising     Opportunities.
  • Free Promotional DVD distributed to all Members
  • Prospective Councillors interviewed and views on     various Tourism issues published.
  • TV Commercial aired into Lismore and Toowoomba Regions in July and November.
• 2009
  • Submission made to Council on DCP for Rural Land Tourism Accommodation.
  • Stakeholders sought to help fund further TV Advertising Campaigns.
  • TV Commercial aired into Lismore, Tamworth and Toowoomba in February and June.
  • Meetings held with Council, BRAG and Northern Rivers Tourism.
  • Presentations made to both Alstonville and Lennox Head Chambers of Commerce.
  • Website visitation showing a threefold increase on 2008.

What’s in it for YOU?

We have entered a very exciting time for Tourism Ballina as we establish a comprehensive range of our own products for the benefit of our members. It is through your Membership Fees and Website Advertising Options that we are now able to offer the following:

• A TV Advertising Commercial, made by the members, for the members and the benefit of the Ballina Shire. We are currently concentrating our efforts on the Lismore region, which covers Yamba to Tweed and west to Tenterfield as part of our Local Community Awareness Program and also into Toowoomba and Tamworth regions.
• New members receive a FREE copy of the motivational Tourism Promotional DVD for loading onto their own website, run in Reception Areas or through to rooms. This montage of Ballina Shire images, both old and new, also features the TV Commercial.
• A top ranking tourism website, www.tourismballina.com.au with Virtual Tour imagery from the TV Commercial and Promotional DVD. You receive a FREE listing, but have the choice to enhance your presence through the various ‘Options’.

As a major stakeholder for the local Tourism Industry, we continue to represent you in discussions and working groups with Council and other Organization and will continue to run Tourism Evenings a couple of times a year. Our Newsletter’s circulation now exceeds 1,200.

Three affordable Annual Memberships are offered with Website Advertising Option add-ons:

• Small Business Operators              $60
  Small/new Tourism Businesses or Retailers such as single or ‘husband & wife’ operators with no employees, eg B&B’s, tour operators or attractions.
  
  
• Medium Business Operators          $110
  Businesses up to 5 employees, Restaurants & Accommodation Houses with under 30 rooms.
  
  
• Large Business Operators              $160
  Businesses with over 5 employees or Accommodation Houses with over 30 rooms.

 

Website Advertising

Option 1	add a 100 word description to your Free entry	$25
Option 2	be a Insert Feature Business	$25/page
Option 3	add an Image + 100 word description to your Free entry	$50
Option 4	be a Feature Business on our Newsletter for the year	$75
Option 5	be a Home Page Feature Business	$100
Option 6	have your own Feature Page with Virtual Tour	$200

Where do we go from here?

Join the 50 prominent Tourism Operators who are already Members and support us in driving the growth Tourism in the Ballina Coast & Hinterland and encourage other to join. To join now, read our full 09 Prospectus and then complete the Membership Form Instructions on that page

For further information, contact Dave Heggie (6619 2470) or e-mail secretary@tourismballina.com.au

 

 

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