More than 200 tourism industry professionals will gather in Coffs Harbour this Thursday for the region’s leading tourism event of the year, the 2026 North Coast Tourism Symposium.
The annual industry development initiative is hosted by Destination North Coast (DNC) NSW and will run from 8.30am to 4pm at Aanuka Beach House on Thursday, 30 July.
This year’s theme, From Vision to Visitor Ready: Distinctive Places, Shared Future, explores how innovation, sustainability and destination leadership can shape a stronger visitor economy for the North Coast. The full-day program will bring together state government and industry leaders to discuss the biggest opportunities and challenges facing tourism in the region, now and into the future.
Karen Jones, CEO of Destination NSW, will headline the program with a presentation on the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035. Her address will be followed by an in-conversation session with DNC Chair John O’Neill and a question and answer session with the audience.
The program will also feature a session on turning state to regional vision into action with Dr Meredith Wray, Director of Destination North Coast, and a Coffs Coast destination spotlight with Mayor Nikki Williams and General Manager Murray Wood of the City of Coffs Harbour.
Stewart Moore, CEO of EarthCheck and Executive Director of the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism, will speak on local application of a global strategy, while Emily Eliot, Head of Social Media and Content at Tourism Australia, will present a session titled Beyond Pretty Pictures, focused on discoverability and social media.
Breakout sessions will give local operators the chance to share their insights on meeting evolving visitor expectations. Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary’s Tiga Cross, Big Banana Fun Park’s Michael Lockman and C-Change Adventures’ Matt Sparrius will front one such session.
Other breakout sessions will cover best practice operators with Karen Hirst of Lismore City Council and Gill Robson of CEX Group, the nighttime economy with Sarah Anderson of Destination Byron and Michael Bryers of Another Tasty Event, and transport and access for North Coast visitors with Jessica Pritchard of Transport for NSW.
In the evening, the sold out 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards Gala will recognise exceptional tourism businesses and initiatives from across the region, stretching from the Tweed in the north to Hawks Nest in the south, and east to Lord Howe Island. The gala will run from 6pm at Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour.
“The North Coast Regional Tourism Awards celebrate the innovation, creativity and memorable visitor experiences that set our region apart,” said Mr O’Neill.
“Delivered by the NSW Tourism Association, the program gives businesses an opportunity to reflect on their achievements, strengthen their operations and gain well-deserved recognition, while acknowledging the operators and local government partners driving the North Coast visitor economy forward.”
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