NSW city aims to lure overseas schools
The Australian city of Port Stephens is hoping boost its tourism industry by luring more international school groups.
Port Stephens Tourism, together with Port Stephens Beachside Holiday Parks, is attending the Australian Tourism Exchange in Perth from 15-21 June to pitch its Discovery Camps programme to overseas travel companies that cater to international school groups. The aim is to attract primary and secondary school groups on adventure learning trips to the region, which lies 2.5 hours north of Sydney.
The city is hoping to draw on its range of natural resources, including whales, dolphins, koalas, kangaroos and sea turtles, combined with adventure activities such as diving, snorkelling, kayaking, surfing, bushwalking, camel riding, quad biking, horse riding and sandboarding.
Port Stephens Tourism’s Marketing Manager, Tars Bylhouwer, said the Discovery Camps programme had been successful since its domestic launch in 2004.
“Educational tourism is a lucrative market for Port Stephens and the success of our Discovery Camps programme in the local market has convinced us to pitch this fantastic product to overseas school groups for the first time,” Bylhouwer said. “There is no comparable product available in Australia. Our unique Discovery Camps programme can be custom-designed by overseas teachers to include academic components, new nature-based experiences, team building and just plain fun and is suitable for primary to high school students who stay for two to seven days in cabins in beachside holiday parks ideal for school groups.
“We’ve already received strong interest from several overseas wholesalers specialising in educational tourism who are impressed with the perfect package Port Stephens offers visiting school groups – rich wildlife, pristine scenery, adventure activities and affordable and exciting accommodation for school groups. Our Discovery Camps team can organise the whole itinerary from accommodation and transport to activities and meals – a complete start to finish service – which should make the life of overseas teachers much easier,” he added.
Accommodation for schools is provided at one of the five holiday parks that comprise the Port Stephens Beachside Holiday Parks network – Fingal Bay Holiday Park, Shoal Bay Holiday Park, Soldiers Point Holiday Park, Halifax Holiday Park and Samurai Beach Resort.