Why Should You Join Tourism Ballina?

 

What would you like to see?

• Ballina Brand
• Tourism Industry Voice
• TV Advertising
• Collaborative Marketing
• Promotional DVD
• Improved Signage
• Ballina Merchandise
• Ticketing Venue
• Local Awareness

 

Regardless of your type of business, Tourism benefits you!

You are part of a $100 million+ Industry – recent reports estimate that this is the value of the Tourism Industry to the Ballina Shire.

Not an insignificant amount! Critical to its growth and development is a sustained commitment from the Tourism Industry over the coming years to establish a unified and solid base.

We aim to achieve that.

If we fail, we will be by-passed – literally!

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 is that 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
• Successfully lobby for representation on NRT board
• Increase the range of promotional tools at the industry’s disposal
• Become recognised as the Shire’s unified voice for Tourism
• Boost our Membership base and Stakeholder standing
• Continue to work with Ballina Shire Council on Tourism Development strategies and funding
• Network with other regional tourism and government stakeholders to promote our interests

 

Objectives for 2008/9 are to:

• Work closely with Council on Signage strategy
• Promotion of Ballina Coast and Hinterland through TV Advertising
• Involvement with the upcoming ‘Community Awareness Program’
• Produce the Tourism Promotional DVD, its sale and distribution
• Create a Tourism presence at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport
• Develop Website Virtual Tours
• Progress the options for a central Ticketing Venue
• Develop Merchandising options

 

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 to date
  • Website ranking improved by the use of Google Ad Words and improved presentation.
  • Consultation with Council on outcomes from their Industry Conversation, with particular support given to Signage Issues and Community Awareness Program.
  • Social/Networking evening held at Northern Rivers Brewing Company.
  • Represented Tourism Industry on Ballina Shire Prospectus Steering Group.
  • Production of a 30 sec. TV Advert promoting the Ballina Coast & Hinterland.
  • New Marketing Initiatives Launch and Social Evening at Ballina RSL

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 ‘Postcard from Ballina’ a TV Advertising Commercial’, ‘by the members, for the members’ and the benefit of the Ballina Shire, which can be run on any network Australia wide. We are currently concentrating on the Lismore segment that covers Yamba to Tweed and west to Tenterfield, followed by the Toowoomba area.
  
  
• A Free copy of the motivational Tourism Promotional DVD for you to load onto your own website, linked to e-mail responses, run in your Reception area or through to your rooms. This will be an extended montage of the first set of Member Operations that featured in the TV Advert.
  
  
• A top ranking tourism website, with Virtual Tour imagery from the TV Advert 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 Tourism Industry, we continue to represent you in discussions and working groups with Council and Tourism Bodies and will continue to run Member’s Evenings three/four times a year.

Three affordable Annual Memberships are offered with Website Advertising Options 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	- add an Image + 100 word description to your Free entry	$50
Option 3	- be a Insert Feature Business	$75 (then $25 each addition ad)
Option 4	- be a Home Page Feature Business	$100
Option 5	- have your own Feature Page with Virtual Tour	$200

Where do we go from here?

In the first two years, many prominent Tourism Operators have subscribed. We look to them renewing their Membership and support us for another year and encourage others to join. To join now, complete the membership form and instructions on the last page or you can make initial enquiries by clicking the join button..

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

 

© Tourism Ballina Inc