Tourism Product Development
Tourism is the temporary short-term movement of people to destinations outside the places where they normally live and work, and which together with their activities and experiences during these trips which include pleasure, entertainment, culture, business, conferences, visiting friends and relatives, adventure, shopping, dining, challenge and self development or a combination of these, contribute substantially to the economies of the destination visited.
Tourism and associated industries continue to play a key part in the growth of the local economy and the development of the Tweed Shire. The contribution of Tourism and related industries to the Tweed economy in the 2007/8 attracted about 1.261 million visitors and, had a significant impact on the economy of the Tweed. The net tourism expenditure in 2007/08 of $144 million represents about 5.83% of overall Tweed local industry output. Similarly, the value added and income (wages & salaries) by tourism expenditure were about 5.98% and 6.63% respectively of the overall Tweed economy.
Some of Australia’s most iconic residential resort developments have arrived on the Tweed coast in recent years including Casuarina and the $1billion Salt Beach development near Kingscliff which incorporates the Peppers Salt Resort and Spa, Bale Resort, The Golden Door Spa and Mantra on Salt Beach resorts.
The Tweed’s natural assets including pristine beaches, leisurely waterways, and World Heritage listed Rain Forests and National Parks, including the sub-tropical Gondwana Rainforest, and with the Tweed now part of the Green Caldron are all attributes which confirm the Tweed as a unique nature based tourist destination. The development of innovative new products including food/tourism, food trails, adventure activities, unique getaways and boutique accommodation experiences, all complement and add to the Tweed’s natural assets confirming the Tweed as a growing tourist destination.
Recent property and commercial tourism orientated developments on the Tweed Coast are attracting an array of international and domestic tourists seeking the coasts laid back beach lifestyle.
There remains a need to continually develop, initiate, and promote other tourism product/activities, including Tweed River Nature Link and the concept of an Environmental Education Resource Centre.
