New campaign launched to encourage visitors to fire areas
A short visit goes a long way — that’s the message behind a new Victorian tourism campaign encouraging visitors to support struggling businesses by travelling to fire-affected communities.
VIC News
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Victorians are being encouraged to look at their 2020 calendars and plan to spend time and money in the bushfire-ravaged communities.
The state government today launched a new campaign “A Short Visit Goes A Long Way”, urging families to plan Easter, long weekends and school holidays in the devastated areas to reboot local economies.
Two of the worst hit towns of Corryong and Mallacoota have declared their upcoming signature events – the Wild Seafood Harvest Festival and the Man from Snowy River Festival respectively – are definitely going ahead in April.
Tourism Minister Martin Pakula said the most practical thing that people can do right now is to travel and spend money in the affected regions.
“It will not only create amazing memories for families and kids, it will also provide vital support to our bushfire affected communities as they recover and rebuild,” he said.
More than 150 businesses had committed to running two-day conferences or workshops in these areas, he said.
“It’s all about getting that economic recovery happening.’’
Destination Gippsland chief executive Terry Robinson said Mallacoota’s seafood festival on April 3 to 5 had only been slightly altered because of the impact of the fires.
“With the history of the seafood industry and indigenous culture as underlying themes during the weekend, this event will really showcase Mallacoota’s wild caught produce, scenery, industry and community,” Mr Robinson said.
The Man from Snowy River Festival swells the town’s population from 1200 to more than 10,000 over the weekend.The announcement comes as NAB said it would give its 30,000 employees an extra day of annual leave in 2020 to visit bushfire-affected communities.
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Gippsland towns including Lakes Entrance, Metung, Paynesville and Loch Sport, and
High Country centres Bright, Beechworth, Rutherglen and Mansfield are all open for business.
Destination Gippsland and Tourism North East will each receive a $200,000 grant
to pay for a staff member to work with tourism operators and to co-ordinate campaigns.
Regular events such as a farmers’ markets were also a way for people to kickstart local economies.
Tourism authorities were also quick to remind people that other areas of the state were still open for business including west and south Gippsland which has been largely unaffected by fires.
Anyone visiting regional and rural Victoria during the summer is advised to check for fire updates on the Vic Emergency app or online.
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