Lake Macquarie Visitor Information kiosks hit the holiday road
Published on 20 February 2023
Mobile visitor information kiosks will hit the road across Lake Mac in a first for the Hunter Region this weekend, spruiking the city’s events and attractions at key visitor locations.
The two brightly coloured vans, funded by the NSW Government, mark a deliberate step away from the traditional visitor centre, taking the passion and knowledge of tourism staff and volunteers to places where they are needed most.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said visitor information would still be available at Swansea, but the changing needs and habits of tourists meant a static service centre was no longer attracting visitors, and mobile kiosks were an effective alternative.
“We want to make visitor information in Lake Mac more accessible to everyone,” she said.
“These new mobile kiosks are small enough to fit in easily at our events, markets or in high-traffic areas during peak holiday periods, but they’re also large enough to provide all the tourism info and literature you’d normally find at any Visitor Information Centre.”
Next weekend’s Lake Macquarie City Pro Junior contest at Redhead Beach will be their first official outing, with hundreds of visitors from throughout NSW and interstate converging on the popular coastal strip.
Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said mobile tourism kiosks were an industry-leading initiative and a first in the Hunter region. The kiosks will be manned by new ‘Tourism Ambassador’ volunteers.
“The combination of the kiosks and our Tourism Ambassador Education Program will help expand knowledge in the tourism and hospitality sector in Lake Macquarie,” Ms Hemsley said.
“It will also help operators understand how to target new visitors and capitalise on the wonderful attractions and offerings we have here.”
Out-of-region visitation to the city has increased substantially since summer 2020, with Lake Mac now welcoming 1.35 million visitors a year.
That number is expected to increase to 2.5 million visitors by 2032.
“We’re excited for these new mobile kiosks to help continue that trend of growth,” Ms Hemsley said.
Latest data shows the tourism sector accounts for more than 2200 direct jobs across Lake Macquarie.
The city’s visitor economy also supports an estimated 1200 additional accommodation and food services jobs.
Ms Hemsley said Council was also in the process of redeveloping its Tourism Partnership Program, making it more accessible to small tourism operators and helping them get the exposure they need to succeed.