Australian Regional Tourism is today announcing the postponement of the 2021 Australian Regional Tourism Convention (ARTC), originally scheduled for 11-13 October 2021. Convention will now be held in October 2022.With a number of restrictions impacting the event, including our speakers, sponsors and our delegates, the ART Board has decided this is the best course of action to ensure we are able to provide a safe and enjoyable convention for everyone.
“The decision made to postpone Convention was the most sensible one for the safety of not only our staff, but our delegates, speakers, suppliers and sponsors,” said ART Chair, Coralie Bell.
“We are honestly devastated at the ongoing impacts of covid on regional Australia and I am personally sad that we won’t be able to gather in person” Mrs Bell said.
“Events are a critical part of bringing people together, from music events to business conferences, the shared experience is intrinsic to who we are as people. The ongoing impacts on this sector and the lasting legacy is yet to be realised.”
“From the ART Board, we look forward to seeing everyone together again soon. Unfortunately, that won’t be until a time when confidence in domestic travel returns and the States work together on closing and opening boarders in a way that results in our country once again being open for business”
ART and the City of Ballarat continue to work in partnership to ensure that Convention will deliver relevant and meaningful content for delegates.
“This decision has obviously not been made lightly, but for all the right reasons,” Ballarat Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said.
“Tourism is such an important sector to our national recovery and we look forward to welcoming delegates from around Australia to our City in October 2022.”
Topics for the Convention include discussions with industry leaders, planning and recovery post pandemic and bushfires, tourism development, visitor servicing, regional place branding, regional events, data and trends plus much more.
Regarded as the most significant annual event for anyone engaged in regional tourism, the convention provides delegates the opportunity to connect, share ideas and engage in robust discussions around opportunities and challenges being faced by the industry.
For more information please contact Lauren Douglass, Executive Officer, Australian Regional Tourism.
