Mid North Coast overtakes Sydney as the Number One preferred holiday destination in NSW

Destinations throughout the Mid North Coast have overtaken Sydney as the preferred NSW holiday destination for Australians 14 + in survey results released today by Roy Morgan Research.

The Mid North Coast destinations from Port Stephens in the south to Coffs Coast in the north are the number 1 preferred holiday destinations in the survey ahead of Sydney at number 2,  the Blue Mountains at 3, Hunter at 4 and Northern Rivers at 5 in a line up of more than 15 regions throughout the state, Mid North Coast Regional Tourism Executive Officer, Ms Belinda Novicky announced today.
 
"These are encouraging results that auger well for a bumper season throughout the region for 2009/2010 Christmas holidays," she said.

Ms Novicky attributed the region's growing popularity to a number of factors:

"While our natural attractions, national parks, beaches and forests remain unspoilt our product and services have matured to meet the more sophisticated tastes of the Australian travelling public, " she said.

"At the same time many people are seeking destinations where they can de-stress, rekindle relationships and memories.

"The Mid North Coast is a traditional holiday destination that is now drawing back people who holidayed here as children and want to  rekindle those memories and share them with their families.'

"The 2008/2009 Christmas holiday season was one of the best in the past 10 years and these survey results indicate that great trend will continue for our tourism operators into 2010," she said.

"We will continue to offer price competitiveness, build on our appeal as a family friendly destination and preserve and promote the pristine coastline and our nature based activities.

"That's obviously what travelling Australians want and we can deliver," Ms Novicky said.