APPLICATION FORM Ref: 22407 Major Regional Tourist Centres 1. Background Tourist Signs in NSW Tourist signs in Australia have a white legend on a brown background and are installed to assist road users in locating major tourist attractions and destinations. Tourists/road users who rely on these signs must be assured of the quality of the product and service they are likely to receive at their destination. The visitor experience is therefore the primary consideration when determining eligibility for tourist signage. To maintain road users confidence in tourist signage for major tourist attractions and destinations, it is important that any signposted location or precinct must meet a minimum standard and offer a minimum range of tourist services. The eligibility criteria used to assess applications for tourist signposting have been developed through extensive industry consultation and aim to reflect industry standards for major tourist attractions. The eligibility criteria are contained in the NSW Tourist Signposting Manual (available on line at www.destinationnsw.com.au/tasac) which forms the basis of all decisions regarding tourist signposting in NSW. Applications for tourist signs on State roads in NSW are assessed by the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee (TASAC). TASAC is a group formed by the NSW State Government to have overall responsibility for the planning and implementation of tourist signposting systems in New South Wales. TASAC is made up of representatives of Destination New South Wales, the The Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), Destination Networks (DNs) and a Secretariat. The RMS is responsible for authorising and erecting signs on State roads. These include all highways and many other major classified roads. Local councils are responsible for installing signs on regional roads (the rest of the classified road network) and are wholly responsible for local roads. The Tourist Signposting Manual is applicable in all cases. It is important to understand the following: (i) (ii) (iii) Signs for eligible attractions will only be provided where there is available space in the road reserve. In other words, a major tourist attraction or destination that meets all the signposting criteria might not receive white on brown signs because the road network has no capacity for any more signs. Signs will only be erected on State roads where the local council agrees to similar signs (where necessary) being erected on their road network, so that road users can be easily directed to tourist attractions and destinations once they leave the highway. Operators are required to pay for the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance and, where necessary, the removal of signs. Page 1 of 8 1213-036
2. Tourism Product Categories A range of tourism product of major interest to road users are clusters of tourist attractions that fit into a shared theme. This type of tourist destination falls into a number of broad categories which are distinct in form and character from one another (such as wine tourism regions, historic towns, seaside towns) but which are nonetheless integral components of the tourist attraction sector. Because of their differing characteristics, each category has its own set of specific criteria for signposting. This Application Form is the relevant form if your product fits within the Major regional tourist centres category. If you are uncertain about which category your attraction falls into, you should contact the TASAC Secretariat (details below) for advice. Please read the attached Application Form carefully and complete both sections. Your application will be assessed based on the information you provide. Conflicting or inadequate information will lead to delays in processing and any omissions may result in TASAC being unable to make a decision on your application. 3. Rationale for Signposting Major regional tourist centres Major regional tourist centres are defined as cities / towns located off the major traffic corridors that provide an extensive range of services, and have a large number of major tourist attractions. The purpose of tourist signs in this category is to indicate to road users the range of services and tourist attractions that are available in cities/ towns located away from the major traffic route. Examples include: Port Macquarie Yamba, and Nelson Bay. Approval for signposting as a major regional tourist centre is subject to endorsement by TASAC, having regard to the above criteria regarding the scale of service and activity. 4. Completing the Application Form To be favourably considered for signposting, applicants must demonstrate that their tourist destination meets all the relevant criteria. Please provide as much detail as possible, including documentary evidence such as photographs and supporting material such as copies of leaflets and brochures. Generally, simple Yes/No answers are insufficient. Do not be limited by the space provided on the application form and attach additional pages as required. To support your application and highlight how you meet the criteria please include samples of the following: brochures advertising material descriptions of the services you offer interpretive information provided to visitors your web site address if you have one Page 2 of 8
relevant photographs of individual attractions (interior and exterior) relevant to your product any other material/information that will provide a complete picture of the tourism experience your destination offers. You are encouraged to consult with the TASAC Secretariat prior to completing your application to ensure that all the necessary material is submitted. Please refer also to the Destination NSW website (www.destinationnsw.com.au/tasac)which contains information to assist you in preparing your application. When all the relevant sections of the Application Form have been completed, and supporting information attached, please send it to the TASAC Secretariat. Please contact the TASAC Secretariat for any further information regarding the application process: TASAC Secretariat Tourism Foundry Contact is Tom Urban PO Box 456, Artarmon, NSW, 1570 Ph: 0432 219 151 Email: TASAC@tourismfoundry.com.au OR TASAC@dnsw.com.au Please note that in addition to the written application, TASAC and/or their representatives will generally conduct a site inspection or visit. This is done to fully assess the application and to ensure the service provision meets visitor requirements. 5. Assessment of your application Applications for tourist signs in NSW are assessed by TASAC. The Committee meets monthly, and your application will be considered at the first meeting after it is received. The time will vary depending upon when in the meeting cycle your application is received and whether or not TASAC requires more information regarding your business, services, etc before a decision is made. Applications assessed as eligible for signposting are then referred to the RMS who will determine where the signs can be placed. The signs will then need to be designed and installed. It is important to note that in some cases it might not be possible to install signs, due to local circumstances. Notwithstanding major regional tourist centre satisfying all the requirements to be eligible for a sign, a site within the road reserve needs to be available for any sign to be installed. If no site is available no sign can be installed. Should your application proceed to this stage the RMS will advise you in this respect. Page 3 of 8
SECTION A: GENERAL INFORMATION Name of Attraction (this will form the basis of the wording on the sign(s), if eligible): Street Address of Attraction (please attach a map showing where it is located): Local Government Authority Area: Proprietor / Owner/ Applicants Name: Name of Key Contact (if different from above): Position Title: Postal address for correspondence (if different from address): Ph: Fax: Email: Page 4 of 8
Conditions If your tourism product qualifies for white on brown signposting, it is your responsibility, as the applicant, to ensure it continues to comply with the criteria for your product category. If your product is found to no longer comply with the criteria the RMS will remove the sign at your expense. Therefore, after you are granted a sign you will need to regularly review your product against the criteria to ensure you still comply with them. All tourist signposting is provided on this basis. It is therefore a requirement that applicants indicate they accept this condition as part of their application. All approvals are granted for a 5 year period. After this period you will be contacted by TASAC and ask to demonstrate how your product still qualifies for signage. The RMS has an electronic database of all guide signs including tourist signs erected on the State road network in New South Wales. This database provides ready access to TASAC to ensure it conforms with the Tourist Signposting Manual. TASAC assumes that the product has all the approvals, licenses and insurances necessary to legally operate. A signature below confirms that the information provided in all parts of the application is true and accurate, and that the above conditions have been read, understood and are agreed to by the applicant. Please sign here: Name: Date: Please note unless digital signature can be applied please mail or scan and email this page to the TASAC secretariat Page 5 of 8
SECTION B. SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR MAJOR REGIONAL TOURIST CENTRES To be completed where a city/town is seeking signposting as a Major Regional Tourist Centre. Ideally, the relevant local council should submit this application, as in most cases the local authority is best placed to answer the questions below. If the applicant is a group other than the local council (eg local chamber of commerce), the applicant is required to obtain the written support of the local council. To be eligible for tourist signposting the city/town must meet the following criteria: Located off the major traffic corridor. Provides an extensive range of services for visitors. Has a large number of major tourist attractions. NOTE: THE HELP NOTES AT THE BACK OF THIS FORM WILL ASSIST YOU TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION. PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY AS YOU ANSWER EACH QUESTION. 1. Please provide a map showing the location of the city/town in its surrounding regional context. (Please see Note 1 ) What is the distance from the major traffic corridor? km 2a List the services available within the town or city for visitors. (Please see Note 2 ) 2b Provide copies of promotional information including maps/brochures, etc of the services available. (Please see Note 3 ) Page 6 of 8
3. List the major tourist attractions within the city/town. Provide copies of their brochures, promotional material, etc. (Please see Note 4 ) 4. Please provide any other information that will support the application to be signposted as a major regional tourist centre. Page 7 of 8
NOTES 1. Located of regional city/town Signs in this category are intended to inform road users about the range of services and tourist attractions that are available in cities/towns located some distance away from the main traffic route. Only those towns/cities that are located off major traffic routes, and not those already situated on major corridors and through-routes, are eligible for regional tourist signage. 2. Services Road users have a legitimate expectation that a signposted regional tourist centre will offer a wide range of services, with a reasonable degree of choice, when they see a white on brown sign and decide to exit the main road and visit the centre. Inadequate range and variety of services could result in road users dissatisfaction and ultimately this reflects badly not only on the credibility of the particular regional centre, but also on the tourism industry generally and the credibility of the New South Wales tourist signposting system. To qualify for tourist signposting as a regional tourist centre, towns and cities situated off major traffic corridors are expected to provide a range of accommodation and food options that give road users confidence to leave the main traffic route with the knowledge that fuel, food, accommodation etc will be available at their destination. 3. Promotional information To be eligible for tourist signage, regional town centres must have available brochures and other promotional material that provide details (location, opening hours, days and any seasonal variations in opening times etc) about the available services and specific tourist attractions on offer. It is desirable if the brochure includes a map showing the location of these services/attractions, and some brief statistics about its story. Regional tourist centres that do not have a brochure or other promotional and informative material will not be eligible for signage. Providing examples of advertisements of local businesses (eg in the local visitor s guide) is also useful but not a substitute for a current brochure. 4. Attractions and activities of tourist interest To qualify for tourist signposting as a regional tourist centre, cities and towns situated off major traffic corridors are expected to offer some specific tourist attractions or generic activities of tourist interest (eg a recreation area, gallery or museum, or fishing/boating opportunities), in addition to food, accommodation, fuel and other services. The applicant must provide copies of appropriate brochures, maps, web site details, photographs etc to demonstrate the range of individual tourist attractions that exist within the city/town. Page 8 of 8