Food and wine regions, walks through national parks and heritage buildings are among the great regional tourist attractions that are set to benefit from the NSW Government’s new $300 million Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund.

Regional communities are being urged to submit expressions of interest for funding for environmental and tourism infrastructure projects to help grow and diversify local economies from the initial round of $100 million.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, John Barilaro, said the Fund is an exciting initiative, which will help to increase tourist numbers, drive job creation and build on other NSW Government regional investment programs.

“The $300 million in NSW Government funding, if combined with other government and private sector contributions, will protect and enhance our precious environmental assets and build new tourism attractions across regional NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall, said it’s a demonstration of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to rural and regional tourism.

“The State’s rural and regional tourism industry is now welcoming 17 per cent more overnight visitors than in 2011 and I am looking forward to promoting its continued growth in the years to come.”

Regional tourism contributes $14.4 billion to NSW, directly employing 84,600 people.

Minister for the Environment, Gabrielle Upton, also highlighted the benefits of investment into regional environment and tourism projects.

“Improving regional environment and tourism infrastructure will attract more visitors to regional NSW, drive growth in local economies and make regional NSW an even more attractive place to live,” Ms Upton said.

The $300 million Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund is funded from the $20 billion Rebuilding NSW initiative, from which the NSW Government has committed $6 billion to regional NSW.

This is in addition to the $110 million provided for regional tourism infrastructure by the NSW Government for regional airports, cruise facilities and rail trails.

Visit http://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/invest-in-nsw/regional-opportunities/regional-growth-environment-and-tourism-fund