Global media teams descend on the Tweed

JANET Jiang is a fan of the coast lifestyle, in particular surfers.

But the website editor for Chinese entrants to the Repco Rally Australia, Shanghai FCACA Rally Team, will probably only get to see the green of the Tweed's hinterland, and not the gold of our bronzed surfers, during her first visit to the area.

“I got to come to Australia for the first time in May, when the team took part in an Asia Pacific Rally Championship event,” the Shanghai journalist said.

“I love the beach and especially the surfers, so I hope to get to visit the beach.

“We arrived in Australia on Monday and are busy getting ready for the racing.

“We'll be flying back to China on Monday; but I would love to come back.”

Never before has an event lured so many journalists, both domestic and foreign, to the Tweed, with media organisations from more than 108 countries expected to cover the three-day round of the World Rally Championship.

So, to capitalise on this opportunity to “beam the images of the Tweed into thousands of lounge rooms across the globe”, Tweed Tourism, Tweed Shire Council and Tweed Economic Development Corporation will host a media lunch today at Salt Village to highlight what the area has to offer the tourist, resident and business owner.

“Journalists from the US, UK, Japan and other parts of Asia and Europe have said they will come to the lunch,” said Tweed Tourism boss Phil Villiers.

Tweed Tourism will give some of the foreign media a guided tour of the Shire, and on Tuesday took a group of international journalists whale watching with Aquatic Blue Charters and to taste test some of the area's unique produce at Tropical Fruit World.