2026 Visitor Experiences Summit

The Destination Country and Outback Visitor Experiences Summit returns for its fourth year on 10–11 March 2026, bringing industry leaders, tourism operators and business owners to Narrabri for 24 hours of ideas, connection and inspiration.

Hosted by Destination Country and Outback NSW (DNCO) and featuring special guest Karen Jones, CEO of Destination NSW, the Summit will focus on the social impact of tourism — exploring how visitor experiences can strengthen communities, culture and local economies.

The event begins at 1pm on Tuesday, 10 March at The Lodge, Narrabri and concludes at 1pm on Wednesday, 11 March, with sessions, panels, workshops and networking events held across Narrabri, including an evening showcase at The Exchange.

About Destination Country & Outback NSW

Destination Country and Outback NSW is the state’s largest Destination Network, representing inland regional NSW. DNCO works with councils, operators and industry to:

Grow regional visitor economies
Develop high-quality, bookable experiences
Strengthen industry capability
Promote country and outback NSW to new markets

For business operators in the Narrabri Shire, this Summit provides direct access to industry leaders, emerging trends, data insights and practical tools — particularly in areas like social impact, storytelling, AI and digital marketing.

What to Expect

Over the 24-hour program, attendees will experience:

Keynote sessions and fireside chats with industry leaders
Practical workshops including a social media & AI session
Case studies including a Narrabri social impact example
Panel discussions exploring visitor experience development
A product showcase and networking evening
“Connected to Country” sessions highlighting cultural tourism

The Summit will be MC’d by the engaging Nigel Collin, ensuring a dynamic and collaborative program.

Connected to Country - Cultural and Creative Tourism Accelerator Program

Delivered by NATOC Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with DNCO NSW Ltd, this Accelerator Program supports Aboriginal artists and cultural practitioners across the DNCO region. This program involves practical workshops, mentoring and industry networking to help build sustainable cultural tourism products and experiences.

Expressions of Interest are now open until Friday, 6 March 2026 and open to all Aboriginal Artists, Creatives and Cultural Practitioners living or working in the Northwest.

Connected to Country Poster(PDF, 381KB)

Connected to Country - Cultural and Creative Tourism Accelerator Program EOI(PDF, 213KB)