Tourism plays a vital role in the Southern NSW visitor economy, supporting local businesses, employment and vibrant communities across a diverse and regionally connected landscape. Insights from the Southern NSW & ACT Tourism Roundtable highlight that the future growth and resilience of the visitor economy is increasingly influenced by broader regional systems and development pressures, extending beyond tourism alone.
Feedback from participants points to a region with strong natural, cultural and event-based assets, yet one that is constrained by fragmentation across key systems. Challenges relating to connectivity, collaboration and consistency were identified as limiting visitor dispersal, length of stay and overall business confidence. Many of these challenges are systemic rather than operational, reflecting how decisions, funding and responsibilities are distributed across jurisdictions and organisations.
A key insight emerging from the Roundtable is the need to move beyond siloed, place-based approaches towards more integrated, journey-based and system-led planning. This includes better alignment across transport, workforce, branding, investment and regulatory settings to reflect how visitors experience the region and how businesses operate across seasons and borders.
This Outcomes Report brings together the key themes and insights from the Roundtable, providing a shared evidence base to support advocacy, inform decision-making and guide coordinated action across industry, government and regional stakeholders.