Symposium will tackle tourism

Representatives from every corner of the tourism industry will gather next week for the inaugural Tourism Symposium to be held in Byron Bay.

The symposium, themed ‘Innovate and Prosper’, will be attended by NSW Minister for Tourism Jodie McKay as well as 100 tourism professionals from a broad variety of tourism-related industries from aviation to hospitality, and will tackle topics including economic cycles, food tourism, web 2.0, health and wellbeing tourism, marketing and communications and operating a green business.

Southern Cross University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management is a major sponsor of the event which features guests including Dick Porter, founding director of STA Travel, Steven Snow from Fins restaurant at Salt, Matthew Hingerty, managing director of the Australian Tourism Export Council and Todd Wright from Threesides Marketing, as well as presentations from Southern Cross University academics Professor Kerry Brown and Rose Wright.

Carol Fitzsimmons, Southern Cross University marketing officer for the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, and member of the 2009 Tourism Symposium’s organising committee, said the program design had been based on a survey of over 150 industry operators.

“The symposium is an event designed by the tourism industry for the tourism industry which means it addresses the key issues for them, as well as providing networking and professional development opportunities,” said Ms Fitzsimmons.

“The University’s involvement in the symposium reflects our commitment to helping regional tourism businesses flourish in a volatile global environment.

“We have had great interest in this inaugural event, with delegates coming from Queensland to the NSW mid north coast to attend. We look forward to many more symposiums in the future.”

The 2009 Tourism Symposium will take place at The Byron at Byron Resort & Spa on Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20.

Photo: Carol Fitzsimmons(high resolution image available on request)