Tourism Tasmania set to launch new campaign encouraging Tasmanians to Make Yourself at Home

Make yourself at home – that’s the message from the state’s tourism operators to Tasmanians as they gear up for reopening in just over two weeks. SEE THE VIDEO >>

Charlotte Cantwell, left, Nicole Mason and Lottie the koala. Picture: WEST BY NORTH WEST TOURISM

IN just over two weeks, Tasmanians will be free to roam the state once again and the tourism industry is gearing itself up for what it hopes will be an influx of locals wanting to holiday at home.

The new Make Yourself at Home campaign will be launched by Tourism Tasmania just before the state is expected to move to stage two of the road map to recovery on June 15.

Stage two includes lifting of restrictions on accommodation and intrastate travel.

Tourism Tasmania chief executive officer John Fitzgerald said the campaign aimed to encourage Tasmanians to support the economic recovery of tourism and hospitality businesses over the next year.

“Tasmanians understand Tassie is a beautiful, wondrous and safe place and we want them to get out and about and enjoy it and spend some money,” he said.

“We’ll be featuring a lot of different experiences – we want to demonstrate the breadth of things there are to do around the state.

“We’ll be featuring the whole state, but making sure people are getting out into the regions in particular. Without an international or interstate market, it’s more important than ever that Tasmanians get out and spend money in the regional parts of the state.”

Michele Cordwell Steane and Paul Steane, from King River Rafting, feature in the new tourism campaign focusing on western Tasmania. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mr Fitzgerald said while there had been a strong response from operators wanting to re-open, some would not be opening for an intrastate market only.

“They won’t feel as though they can get enough business,” he said

“I think most Tasmanians will be keen to get out and about – of course some will play it safe, but Tasmanians are good travellers around the state anyway – on average people take more than three trips a year in Tassie.

“They’d normally be travelling to the mainland for holidays as well so we’re trying to redirect them to have staycations instead.”

The campaign will showcase not just Tasmanian businesses, but also the state’s food, wine, produce and events.

Regional tourism organisation West by North West this week released a series of videos featuring dancing tourism operators from the North-West, King Island and West Coast.

Chief executive Tom Wootton said it was difficult to predict the depth of the intrastate market and its ability to sustain tourism businesses.

“Intrastate travel has grown steadily at 11.5 per cent over the past five years, but these are

very different times,” he said.

“We urge all tourism operators to carefully consider their timing for relaunch, just as we urge all Tasmanians to get out and support our tourism industry – they’ve taken a significant hit to protect the health and wellbeing of all Tasmanians.”