With one eye on the opening of Western Sydney International airport soon, the Macarthur region has stamped its passport as a must-visit destination.
The inaugural Macarthur Together event last week in the Mt Annan Botanic Garden was declared a resounding success.
Hosted by Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly Shire Councils, the event brought together tourism operators, industry partners and stakeholders from across the region for a morning of collaboration, connection and big-picture thinking.
The forum showcased the diversity of visitor experiences across the region, highlighted opportunities for complementary offerings and explored how working together can build a stronger, more compelling regional proposition.
Attendees heard industry insights and took part in a panel discussion facilitated by The West Journal founder, Dean Boone featuring regional and state tourism leaders, including NSW Tourism Association CEO Natalie Godward, Greater Sydney Tours managing director and Western
Sydney Tourism Taskforce board member Brent Hilbrink-Watson; Botanic Gardens of Sydney director of marketing, partnerships and experience Rachael Hammond, and Destination NSW senior coordinator – journeys Tenille Campbell.
Interactive sessions such as Fast Chats, Big Ideas encouraged attendees to build new partnerships and explore opportunities for collaboration across the visitor economy, while discussions around activating Macarthur’s 24-hour economy highlighted opportunities for food, arts, culture and events to strengthen the region’s appeal.
Mayor of Camden, Cr Therese Fedeli, said the event demonstrated the importance of regional collaboration in growing a stronger visitor economy.
“Macarthur Together highlighted what can be achieved when councils, businesses and industry partners come together with a shared vision for the future of our region,” she said.
“There is a real opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships, particularly as we prepare for the opening of Western Sydney International Airport and continue building Macarthur as a connected and thriving visitor destination.”