Coffs Harbour has yet again won the globally-acclaimed International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) World Festival and Event City Award – for the third year in a row.
The award means that Coffs is once again ranked alongside some of the world’s greatest cities.
“Huge amounts of work go on behind the scenes by Council, the local business sector and the wider community to make the diverse events we host such great successes,” said Coffs Harbour Mayor, Councillor Denise Knight. “The city is now seen right across Australia as the go-to regional destination for major national and international events. Winning the IFEA Award for three years in succession is going to further cement our reputation globally, which means that the real winner will be the community. It’s also wonderful recognition for the hard work put in by Council staff to make the city a top regional hosting destination.”
Council’s community leadership and focus on encouraging the success and growth of festivals and events were key reasons why an international panel of experts selected Coffs Harbour for the award.
“Attracting more and more visitors every year through the events and festivals we host is a primary goal that Council has set,” said Nikki Greenwood, Council’s Group Leader City Prosperity. “Annually, we see many millions of dollars pumped directly into our local economy from the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to the city and region for such events.
“Growing those numbers is the key aim underpinning our Coffs Harbour Event Strategy 2020. Bringing events here is one strand – and this is why we are committed to upgrading facilities such as the C.ex Coffs International Stadium and the Regional Gallery – but equally important is supporting home-grown events. This is why we recently launched an events website – www.coffscoastevents.com.au – to assist organisers in creating successful festivals and events. All these strategies have the same goal in mind and this award is welcome recognition that we are moving in the right direction.”
Last year, Coffs Harbour hosted a diverse range of sporting and cultural events and ten of these were included in the winning IFEA submission, which is a wonderful recognition for those events and the teams behind them:
- Kennard’s Hire Rally Australia – WRC World Rally Championship
- FFA Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League Double Header
- Saltwater Freshwater Festival
- BCU Coffs Tri (triathlon)
- Screenwave International Film Festival
- Billabong OzGrom Cup
- Harmony Festival
- Coffs Coast Food Festivals (including Woolgoolga Curryfest, Sawtell Chillifest, Taste Woolgoolga, Music in the Vines)
- AFL Preseason Match (JLT Community Series), including Sydney Swans Community and Training Camps
- 2016 Women’s International Cricket Series – Australia V South Africa
