Tourism boost for shire

By Melissa Meehan
A MARKETING program has been launched by the Shire of Yarra Ranges to help promote tourist-related businesses.
The Yarra Valley and The Dandenongs marketing chairman Dale St George, who presented the 2008-09 marketing program to the local tourism industry last Monday night, hailed it a landmark initiative.
Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan said the Flagship Marketing Prospectus was a comprehensive marketing program, that would give tourism operators – both large and small various ways to market their products.
The launch, held at the Sebel Heritage, Yarra Valley, was attended by more than 120 operators representing the wine, food, agribusiness, conferencing and tourism sectors.
A historic Heads of Agreement was also signed to merge the Yarra Valley and The Dandenongs Marketing, the Dandenong Ranges Tourism Association and the Yarra Valley Regional Tourism Associat-ion to form the Regional Consult-ative Committee.
Cr Heenan witnessed the signatures of the chairman and presidents.
From 1 July 2008, the Visitor Information Centres (VIC’s) will be a run by this group.
Cr Heenan said, “By working as one, and in strength, we can deliver a strong marketing message for our region, and maintain our competitive edge as the premier destination outside of Melbourne.”
Cr Heenan said, “Tourism is an intrinsic part of the shire and we are right behind your regional marketing body.”
Yarra Valley and The Dandenongs Marketing have said that they will continue to invest substantially in updating regional branding over the next 12 months to maintain the competitive edge the region enjoys.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that tourism continues to grown in the region.
“The future challenge in a changing economy is to continue that growth,” Cr Heenan said.