Industry Recognition Award - Positive Impact Winner
Registrations Now Open - ECTT Winter Tourism Expo & Networking
East Coast Tourism Connect
ECTT Team News
Bicheno Beams Beckons
Flora's Restaurant nominated for AGFG
East Coast on Show at Launceston Airport
Travelling Mindfully - Tourism Tasmania
Eat Local, Stay Local voucher Paused
Tasmanian Tourism Showcase
TICT Insurance Survey - closing soon
SEO for Small Business
Cyber Security Support
Trade Connect Program
Maria Island Annual Closure
What's On - Events
Business Grants available
Industry Recognition Award - Positive Impact
2025 Winner - Bay of Fires Bush Retreat
Congratulations to Bay of Fires Bush Retreat, recipient of the 2025 Positive Impact Industry Recognition Award.
Bay of Fires Bush Retreat has consistently demonstrated a commitment to sustainable and regenerative tourism. From their thoughtful low-impact accommodation design to their locally sourced, seasonal food offering, the retreat is deeply aligned with the principles of positive impact tourism.
Their operations showcase how environmental care, and economic benefit can go hand-in-hand—enhancing the visitor experience while protecting the landscapes that define the East Coast.
Head to our awards page to learn more about their leadership in positive impact tourism.
You're invited to join our Winter Tourism Expo & Networking, held on Saturday 23 August, 7:00pm –9:30pm at Freycinet Lodge, as part of the 2025 Winter Tourism Famil weekend. Help us highlight the East Coast as a year-round destination!
This is a valuable opportunity to connect with frontline staff from the Tasmanian Visitor Information Network (TVIN), hotel concierge teams, and other key tourism stakeholders who play a pivitol role in guiding visitors across Tasmania. Showcase what makes your business unique — whether it’s your story, experience, product, or people.
You’re welcome have a display table, share tastings or samples - or simply join us for a fabulous winter networking opportunity to catch up with industry colleagues.
This relaxed and engaging event is your chance to leave a lasting impression on those who influence visitor experiences across the state.
Places are limited — register now to take part in this engaging and impactful event.
ECTT is hitting the road connecting with tourism operators across our region. Each month, the team will base ourselves at a new town across our region and host a casual drop-in session offering business support and advice. It's a great opportunity to meet with the team to share your news, get support with your ATDW profiles, leverage marketing campaigns, or simply join us for a coffee and a chat!
We will aim to bring with us an industry partner to each location so that you can also tap into some specialised advice. There's no need to book, however feel free to get in touch with Sally with any questions you may have sally@eastcoasttasmania.com.au
Join us for the first session on Thursday 17th July, at Spring Bay Hotel, Triabunna, from 11am–2pm. We will be joined by Claudia Butler who is facilitating our Triabunna Tomorrow Project
ECTT Team News
The ECTT team recently farewelled Kiley Hay, and thanked her for her wonderful contribution as Marketing Support Officer over the past 3 years.
Kiley's broad experience, local knowledge, and genuine passion for Tasmania's East Coast were greatly valued.
Damian Mather, Kiley Hay, Jen Fry & Sally Taylor
Her energy and love for the region—whether camping with her beautiful family, boating, or exploring the region's food and wine—shone through in everything she did.
We wish Kiley all the very best in her future endeavours!
Welcome Sophie Fergusson
Sophie brings extensive marketing expertise and strong community connections to the Marketing Support Officer role.
Sophie holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and Business (Marketing Major) from the University of New England and operates a web and brand studio in her spare time, showcasing her broad capabilities across digital, strategic and creative marketing.
Sophie Fergusson
Living on a mixed farming property just north of Triabunna, Sophie is deeply engaged in the local community. She is a past President of the Rotary Club of Spring Bay, Secretary of the Spring Bay Tennis Club, a volunteer Ambulance Officer, and founder of Triabunna Relay for Life. Named Community Volunteer of the Year in 2024, Sophie is committed to inclusive, sustainable tourism that celebrates local identity and supports long-term regional wellbeing.
Bicheno Beams Beckons
EVERY NIGHT UNTIL 19 JULY
6:30PM - FREE ENTRY
A family friendly light show, Bicheno Beams brings together locals and visitors alike for an unmissable annual celebration.
Two different laser light shows, alternating each night.
Flora's Restaurant at Craigie Knowe Vineyard has been nominated for an Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG) Award and we need your support.
If you have visited Flora's Restaurant and love our food, we would be so grateful if you could VOTE for Flora's in the Reader's Choice Awards. Simply follow the link / scan the QR code and click 'support my local' then log-in or sign up and vote for Flora's. We are so grateful for your support.
East Coast on Show at Launceston Airport
If you are travelling through Launceston Airport over the next few months, be sure to look up to spot the beautiful East Coast on the screens in arrivals and departures. A big thanks to the Launceston Airport team for their support.
Tourism Tasmania has developed a content series, Travelling mindfully, promoting Positive Impact experiences across Tasmania’s regions that lead the way in sustainable innovations and community impact.
In Episode Four, Tasmania’s Air, Lynne Wilton of Little Beach Co shines as a leader in positive impact tourism. Her beautiful glamping retreat on the east coast pairs luxury with purpose—restoring habitat for endangered swift parrots, nurturing a thriving kelp forest, and helping guests truly breathe Tasmania’s pure, energising air.
Lynne’s vision shows how thoughtful tourism can protect what’s special. Staying here is more than a holiday—it’s a chance to connect, recharge and tread lightly.
As you may be aware, the Tasmanian Government is currently operating in caretaker mode ahead of the State Election on Saturday, 19 July 2025.
During this time, the Eat Local, Stay Local Program has been paused, with its future to be considered by the incoming Government once the election outcome is confirmed.
We’ll keep you updated as soon as more information becomes available. In the meantime, thank you to all the East Coast operators who have supported and embraced this initiative so far—your passion for promoting local experiences continues to shine.
C O N N E C T • C O L L A B O R A T E • C E L E B R A T E
Photo Credit: Darren Wright
You’re invited to an exclusive industry preview of the Tasmanian Tourism Showcase. This is your chance to meet the makers and owners behind some of Tasmania’s most inspiring tourism products and hear their unique stories firsthand. Discover fresh offerings, explore ideas for collaboration and innovation, and uncover new opportunities to grow your business.
Friday 25th July - Industry Preview
1.00pm - 5.00pm (arrive at any time)
Stay on afterwards for industry networking and updates from 5:00pm - 7:00pm (select ticket at checkout)
Tourism operators across the state have been saying for some time that the cost and accessibility of insurance is impacting their businesses. TICT is working with Dr Allison Anderson from episteme Consulting to better understand the challenges for industry around insurance and to start working on possible ways to improve the situation. Completing this survey will help us see where the real issues lie – and the more responses we collect, the more powerful the insights will be. Please share with any operators in the visitor economy. All responses are strictly confidential.
Join Business Tasmania and Rob from Kingthing Marketing for a free online session on Wednesday, 16 July, 12–1pm. Learn how to boost your website’s visibility with easy, practical SEO tips—no tech skills needed! Perfect for any Tasmanian business owner, from beginner to experienced. Register here
Free Cyber Security Help for Small Business
Get free expert support to protect your small business from cyber threats with the Small Business Cyber Resilience Service, funded by the Australian Government and delivered by IDCARE.
If you've experienced hacking, phishing, data breaches or similar issues, IDCARE can help with: • Personalised cyber advice • Device recovery support • Wellbeing assistance
Tourism Tasmania has launched its Trade Connect Program, offering a 50% subsidy on attendance fees for select 2025 Tourism Australia Marketplace events. The program supports international trade-ready operators to attend events in India (August), the USA (September), and China (November).
Participants will promote their tourism experiences to travel agents, wholesalers, inbound tour operators, airlines, and Tourism Australia’s in-market teams. Tourism Tasmania will also host additional networking events in each market to enhance engagement.
Applications for Marketplace China close 4 July. For more information or to apply, contact trade@tourism.tas.gov.au.
Maria Island National Park, including all tracks and roads and airstrip on the island, will be closed to the public from 5pm, Sunday 22 June until 8am, Friday 4 July 2025.
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service will be undertaking essential annual island maintenance and management works.
Access to Maria Island National Park is prohibited during this time to ensure public safety.
For further information please contact Maria Island Gateway on 6123 4040 between 9am and 3:30pm.
Something to share?
We want to hear from you! Tell us what is new and newsworthy, whether from your business or from around the region.
There are a number of industry grants and funding opportunities now available to help support your business visit the website
The Tasmanian tourism industry acknowledges the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and their enduring custodianship of lutruwita / Tasmania. We honour 40,000 years of uninterrupted care, protection and belonging to these islands, before the invasion and colonisation of European settlement. As a tourism industry that welcomes visitors to these lands, we acknowledge our responsibility to represent to our visitors Tasmania’s deep and complex history, fully, respectfully and truthfully. We acknowledge the Aboriginal people who continue to care for this country today. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present. We honour their stories, songs, art, and culture, and their aspirations for the future of their people and these lands. We respectfully ask that tourism be a part of that future.
East Coast Tasmania Tourism Inc, PO Box 115, Bicheno, Tasmania 7215, Australia
