THE talent and hard work of business people in the tourism industry shone on Wednesday night at the South Coast Tourism Awards.
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But two men who were not even nominated for any awards shared in the limelight.
Batemans Bay’s own Ralston Brothers, fourth generation Clyde River oyster farmers, have somewhat become celebrities.
Armed with a custom three-bucket belt – one for oysters, one for sauce, and one for the empty shells – as well as mesh glove and oyster knife, they shuck the oysters, squeeze on their delicious dressing and hand them to you.
And, you would be hard pressed to find better-tasting oysters anywhere.
The entrepreneurs have established their unique business in Sydney and Melbourne and regularly fly to Singapore with their live oysters to satisfy the burgeoning Asian market.
They are just one of the many South Coast success stories contributing to the region’s tourism brand.
The awards, held in Batemans Bay for the first time on Wednesday night, allow the best of the tourism industry to show off what they do best and in turn help others do it better.
The recognition itself of winning an award gives a much-needed boost – inspiring confidence that proprietors are on the right track and motivating them to achieve even more.
Tourism contributes $2.1 billion a year to the South Coast economy and directly employs more than 19,700 people.
It is also the Eurobodalla’s largest industry.
In the year ending June 30, 2013, the visitor economy was worth $367 million and supported 3500 jobs or 25 per cent of the workforce.
Good tourism businesses benefit all; drawing people to the shire and keeping the economy strong.
Wednesday’s awards demonstrated that the tourism product on the South Coast is second to none.
From beach resorts and high-end restaurants to cultural experiences and world-class events – the South Coast has it all.