NSW Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay has launched a $296,000 Outback NSW tourism campaign at Lightning Ridge which will promote this fabulous destination and encourage visitors to stay longer.
McKay met with local tourism operators, councils and business leaders at the annual CountryLink Outback Tourism Symposium event in Lightning Ridge this week.
She said industry events such as this played an important role in bringing tourism operators together with business networks and local government, to discuss new ideas about how best to promote regional tourism.
“Outback NSW offers tourists a truly unique Australian experience, with friendly outback towns and pubs, opal mines and iconic Australian wildlife all in a spectacular landscape,” she added.
The campaign is being supported with $112,000 from the NSW Government’s Regional Partnership Funding Program.
It will feature TV, print and online advertising and will include the promotion of special CountryLink fares to Broken Hill and great value packages including Outback tours.
Camping and adventure-style holidays are popular in Outback NSW, with plenty of driving experiences and historical attractions on offer.
McKay said last year’s campaign had achieved excellent results, with a 10.5 per cent increase in the number of passengers travelling with CountryLink to Broken Hill.
Outback NSW received more than 614,000 visitors in 2009 and injected more than $227 million into the local economy.

Discover the natural beauty of Outback NSW

Discover the natural beauty of the NSW Outback with CountryLink. Explore places like Broken Hill, Menindee Lakes, White Cliffs Opal Fields, Mutawintji National Park, Cameron Corner or the Darling River.
CountryLink offers a range of packaged tours which include rail, accommodation, meals and fully escorted touring.
1) The Emaroo Cottages deal costs from $538 per person twin share and includes four nights’ accommodation in one of these award-winning miners' cottages with one-way travel on CountryLink's Broken Hill Outback Explorer train, one way on the Indian Pacific and station transfers.
2) The five night Outback Break is from $988 per person twin share and features an introduction to the Broken Hill region with Silver City Tours air-conditioned coaches and experienced local guides. Visit the Menindee Lakes, Kinchega National Park, Silverton, the Sculpture Symposium, unique local art galleries, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and much more.
Cost includes four nights' accommodation, one-way travel on CountryLink's Broken Hill Outback Explorer train, one way on the Indian Pacific, station transfers, touring and some meals.
3) The five night Corner Country Safari is $1608 per person twin share and includes Tri State Safaris’ personalised 4WD tour which takes travellers to a part of Australia rarely visited. The Corner Country, where NSW, Queensland and South Australia meet, evokes images of the real outback with its endless horizons, brilliant blue skies and red sand deserts.
Cost includes four nights' accommodation, one-way travel on CountryLink's Broken Hill Outback Explorer train, one way on the Indian Pacific, station transfers, touring and some meals.
Deals are available from April 1, 2010 until March 31, 2011.
For more tours and information visit www.visitnsw.com/outback

by Shamoli Dutt - Austguide Travel News Editor