Council reaffirms support for Tweed Tourism Co

Tweed Heads Visitor Information Centre to close, staff and volunteers thanked

The Tweed Tourism Company will continue as the Tweed’s official tourism destination body for the next 4 years after Councillors unanimously reaffirmed Council’s commitment to the organisation at last night’s meeting.

The Tweed Tourism Company was appointed by Council in 2018 as the Tweed’s lead tourism organisation for an 8-year term, with this mid-point appraisal reinforcing Council’s confidence in the organisation and its direction for tourism in the region.

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General manager of the Tweed Tourism Company Bradley Nardi said the decision reflected the strong performance of the organisation as well as their positive and productive engagement with Council.

“The Tweed Tourism Company and Tweed Shire Council share a strong working relationship and our team is proud to continue our important work here in the Tweed with the ultimate aim of sustainably growing the benefits of tourism for local operators,” Mr Nardi said.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry thanked the organisation for their tireless work over the past 4 years.

“I thank the current contractors, staff and volunteers for all of the work they have done over what has been a very difficult few years for the tourism industry, first with the COVID-19 pandemic and then with the floods,” Cr Cherry said.

“Tourism is an integral part of industry in the Tweed, it supports a significant number of jobs and provides opportunities for the Tweed and it is crucial we continue to move with the times.”

Council’s general manager Troy Green commended the decision as a positive outcome for the stability and prosperity of the Tweed’s tourism future.

“As the Tweed’s lead agency for tourism, the Tweed Tourism Company has demonstrated a high calibre of professionalism and collaboration with local businesses, in particular successfully navigating external challenges that impacted travel and tourism on a national and global scale,” Mr Green said.

The Tweed Tourism Company has led tourism in the region through unprecedented times, including the devastating impacts of fire, floods and COVID-19, including extended closures at the Queensland NSW border.

Mr Nardi said that while the Tweed region had performed well despite these pressures, the changed economic and consumer landscape led to a moderate funding reduction by Council for the coming four-year period.

“This funding change will mostly be absorbed by the business and largely invisible to our service levels,” Mr Nardi said.

“However, one aspect of our business that is not funded moving forward is the Tweed Heads Visitor Information Centre. We know that, as a result of COVID in particular, consumers are now even more reliant on online search and purchase which has further changed how travellers plan and book holidays.”

The Tweed Tourism Company is responsible for managing visitor information centres across the region and, while the Tweed Heads Visitor Information Centre will close in October 2022, there will be no changes to its two other centres at Kingscliff and Murwillumbah.

Mr Nardi acknowledged the commitment of staff and volunteers at the Tweed Heads VIC which has been in operation in its current location since 2006.

“We thank all of the past volunteers and most certainly the 18 current volunteers that have made the centre the friendly place it has been for so long,” he said.

“These wonderful locals have warmly welcomed visitors and helped create countless holiday memories.”