The Daily Examiner, 18 September 2018, p.1:
The Clarence Valley is
out-performing the whole state in tourism growth, according to Clarence Valley
Council, with Yamba the jewel in the crown.
Director environment,
planning and community Des Schroder said the Clarence Valley had recorded a
12.2 per cent growth, while NSW had only notched up a 5.7 per cent growth.
Tourism has become one
of the Valley’s biggest employers with 6.8 per cent of people employed in the
Valley working in tourism and hospitality according to Mr Schroder.
Council statistics
show Yamba has become the fourth most visited town in the North Coast
behind Byron Bay, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, with more tourists than
Ballina, Tweed Heads and Old Bar, Taree.
Mr Schroder said
according to NSW tourism research Yamba statistics are merely 30 per
cent of Byron Bay’s tourism numbers at the moment, but it might not be that way
for long.
“Yamba is growing
but it’s not Byron Bay yet from a tourism point of view, but it’s getting up
there,” he said.
Mr Schroder added the
population of Yamba is fairly stable, but still growing.
He said the influx of
people visiting Yamba around Christmas is starting to become a
constant stream of tourists all year round.
“The impact of the
highway will make a big difference,” Mr Schroder said. “The highway will
improve access for people coming to Yamba from the north and south.”
With 30 per cent of
tourists visiting Yamba hailing from South-East Queensland he said
the council is conscious the tourism in Yamba will continue to grow.
“All council can do is
put the framework in place,” Mr Schroder said.
“We need to manage
lifestyle for the locals while allowing for tourism growth which balances jobs.
You need tourism to create jobs but you don’t want to be over run by tourists.”…….
