Post by Economic Development Australia Limited

Economic Development Australia (EDA) is delighted to present the first edition of the EDA Journal for 2026! This edition brings together a compelling collection of articles exploring practical, place-based approaches to strengthening regional economies and supporting communities. Thank you to our authors for sharing their expertise through insightful, thought-provoking articles: Kushla Gale & Nic Cooper explore how destination managers can guide tourism toward stronger environmental and community outcomes, with practical ideas to support businesses to reduce emissions and enhance visitor experiences. The power of community-driven place branding is brought to life by Mel Garibaldi ACEcD, who shares how the District Council of Kimba’s “I’m Kimba” initiative is strengthening investment attraction, tourism and local pride. Michael Dalley turns our attention to the growing opportunity of astro-tourism, highlighting how governments can support the visitor economy through policy, destination marketing and dark-sky initiatives. The award-winning Coffs Coast Explorer App is showcased by Lewis Belling as an inspiring example of how digital visitor servicing can increase visibility for local businesses and strengthen the visitor economy. Robert Bria highlights the often-overlooked economic influence of children and young people, showing how recognising them as active contributors can strengthen local economies and main streets. Gordon Noble, Caitlin McGee & Dr Matthew Daly present an innovative build-to-rent-to-own housing model, exploring how it could unlock investment and support long-term regional workforce attraction and community stability. Read the latest edition of the EDA Journal here: https://lnkd.in/gf3KDpTC #EconomicDevelopment #EDAJournal