LOCAL Government NSW will deliver its flagship 2026 Destination and Visitor Economy Conference to Maitland on May 27-28-29.

The highly coveted NSW Top Tourism Town Awards will also be presented as part of the program, with Moree and Mungindi in the running for their respective NRMA People’s Choice categories.

Public voting is open until Sunday, May 3, with votes playing a key role in determining the winners.

Moree is pitted against Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Forbes, Kiama, Orange, Shellharbour and Wollongong in the Top Tourism Towns category and Mungindi takes on Broke and Millthorpe in the Tiny Tourism Towns category.

Votes for Moree and Mungindi can be lodged HERE.

LGNSW president, Darcy Byrne, said councils are central to the success of New South Wales’ visitor economy and the Destination and Visitor Economy Conference will showcase the pivotal functions they play.

“Local government plays a key role in shaping vibrant visitor experiences, from the assets we manage to the places we design,” Cr Byrne said.

“Tourism creates jobs, supports local businesses and strengthens communities across New South Wales.

“There’s no denying that we are living in troubling times and local economies are starting to feel the brunt of fuel insecurity.

We’re all hearing reports of trips and holidays being cancelled due to these concerns so now more than ever, we need to share ideas and experiences, to hear about innovation and new approaches in the tourism sector.

“This conference equips councils with practical tools to turn ambition into action and deliver real economic outcomes for their communities,” he said.

The conference, hosted by Maitland City Council, will bring together elected representatives, council staff and tourism industry leaders from across New South Wales to explore the opportunities, innovations and partnerships shaping the future of local visitor economies.

This year’s key topics include emerging travel trends and global marketing, and a solutions-focused discussion on short-term rentals.

Other sessions will look at reimagining council assets as visitor experiences, and the opportunities unlocked by new airport developments.

The 2026 program features a high-calibre speaker line-up, representatives from Destination NSW and Tourism Australia, and one of Australia’s most engaging event creative leaders, Gill Minervini.

Delegates will also gain firsthand insight into the region’s strengths in agritourism, arts and culture, placemaking, heritage, hospitality and handcrafted experiences. The highly coveted NSW Top Tourism Town Awards will also be presented as part of the program which concludes Friday, May 29 with an announcement of the 2027 host.