Technology and nature stood out as key themes for regional tourism when 10 innovative individuals took part in Tamworth’s first startup weekend.
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Participants at the event, hosted by the UNE SMART Region Incubator (SRI), took their ideas from a raw pitch on the Friday night to a sharper, more detailed and more convincing pitch for a panel of judges on the Saturday night.
In between, they worked with mentors and experts to analyse and refine their ideas – some even taking to the streets to gauge public support.
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Emily Bowman of Upper Manilla took first place with her idea for rail trails in the region; Tim Cole of Bellingen was second with his proposal to market regional Australia in otherwise bland Sydney pedestrian thoroughfares.
The judges’ commendation went to Michael Price of Armidale, for his proposal for a blockchain rewards program for regional tourism.
The people’s choice was an idea from Nikki Robertson of the Liverpool Plains for a sunflower maze in the area.
SRI expert-in-residence Gary Morgan said Regional Innovation Sustainable Entrepreneurship (RISE) events were set to become “an essential part of the UNE SMART Region Incubator’s strategy to drive regional business growth through technology innovation”.
“At the inaugural RISE start-up event, we saw exciting regional tourism ideas and examples of the use of new technologies to enhance the customer experience in tourism and other industries,” Mr Morgan said.
Mrs Bowman, whose idea is for a Tamworth Regional Rail Trail for walkers and cyclists along disused train tracks, said the event had been invaluable.
“For me it was really learning the art of pitching; that was very, very valuable,” she said.
The regional tourism ideas are all at different stages, but Mrs Bowman said her next step would be a feasibility study and community consultation process.
“I’d absolutely encourage people with an idea to participate, no matter how unusual or quirky your idea might be – definitely take the opportunity to work with UNE mentors to develop your idea,” she said.
Mr Cole’s SydneyWay plan is to “transform an unused asset at Circular Quay into a wonderful international tourist destination”.
“Using vertical gardens, mosaics, amenities, technology and Sydney's, NSW and Australian stories, Indigenous and modern, we can create a beautiful new city gateway and reconciliation bridge,” he said.
Mr Cole said the startup weekend had been “very helpful to work on new aspects of the SydneyWay, to understand and appreciate the role of regional NSW in terms of tourism and the relationship between the city and the regions”.
“Having mentors to help us was fantastic: different perspectives and levels of business expertise and IT experience.
“Also, working with the other people with their ideas helped me to appreciate the journey and effort that is needed to bring our ideas into the community.”
From pitch to perfect
The innovators first pitched their ideas on Friday evening to an audience from the education, tourism and government sectors.
That audience and a judging panel returned on the Saturday evening to hear the journey the ideas had taken over the course of the previous 24 hours.
The panel was composed of Department of Premier and Cabinet western NSW co-ordinator Alison McGaffin; and Tamworth Regional Council deputy mayor Helen Tickle and community and business director John Sommerlad.