Beating fierce competition, the City of Newcastle has won the bid to host the 2023 Australian Regional Tourism Convention (ARTC), to be held 10-12 October, 2023.

The two-day Convention is regarded as the most significant annual event for anyone engaged in regional tourism and is a must-attend for local councils, regional tourism organisations, tourism professionals and government personnel wanting to contribute to the future of regional tourism in Australia.

This year’s event theme will be ‘Creating the Regional Visitor Economy of the Future’ and will give delegates across every sector of the tourism industry the opportunity to connect, share ideas and engage in robust discussions around the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of Australia’s regional tourism.

Welcoming the announcement, NSW Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said it was a privilege for the state to host this significant industry event.

“We are committed to making New South Wales the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific by 2030, and securing strategic industry events as part of our regional conferencing program will grow our capacity to achieve that ambition,” Mr Franklin said.

Newcastle is renowned for its innovative and creative community and vibrant cultural history, and the convention presents a strong opportunity for the city to highlight its plan to become a nationally significant destination for cultural tourism.

“We are thrilled to be working with the City of Newcastle to deliver the 2023 Australian Regional Tourism Convention,” Australian Regional Tourism Chair, Coralie Bell said.

“The City’s evolution as an events city has stepped up a notch recently with various major events being secured, providing immediate and ongoing benefit for the community and the economy, with greater visitation and investment outcomes. This is all integral to the shaping of a thriving visitor economy.”

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Convention will provide another boost to the city’s economy.

“This is welcome news for our city with large-scale business events proven to be a significant contributor to Newcastle’s visitor economy,” Mayor Nelmes said.

“Securing the bid to host the 2023 Australian Regional Tourism Convention against other destinations is a testament to our city’s world-class facilities and amenity and is indicative of a thriving economy.

“Newcastle continues to shine as a destination and we look forward to welcoming the 250 plus delegates in October and showcasing our city’s diverse offering including its rich heritage, spectacular coastline and vibrant nightlife.”

The convention is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.