How do we grow tourism and the local visitor economy in Gippsland?  How do we remain competitive as a region? 

Over the past 12 months we have been developing a 10-year Destination Management Plan for Gippsland to help answer these questions. 

With the help of TRC Tourism the draft of this plan will be available for comment in coming weeks.  I encourage everyone involved in the Gippsland tourism sector to read this strategic plan and contribute to its implementation.  Details of how to provide feedback will be communicated shortly.

Terry Robinson

Eat.Drink.Gippsland is a guide to Gippsland’s best food, wine, beer, gin, produce, cafés, restaurants, farm gates and everything in between!

This month we start the process of putting together the second edition of this hugely successful guide. We would like to thank everyone who has supported the first edition of the guide, both in advertising and in distribution.

Expressions of interest are now open for the 2nd edition of Eat.Drink.Gippsland, advertising space is strictly limited and will be confirmed on a first in basis.   

For more information please contact Kim Schebella on kim.schebella@destinationgippsland.com.au

You are invited to join us in Lakes Entrance at the Lakes Entrance Golf Club on Thursday 27 June for our second Gippsland Tourism Forum for 2019.  

'Boost your business' with an online listing workshop at 11.00am (open to all operators but places are limited). Enjoy a networking lunch and listen to a variety of engaging presentations.

Hear how you can become involved in the new Brand for Gippsland, listen and learn from local case study success stories and understand the big picture for Gippsland with a presentation on the Destination Management Plan by TRC Tourism.

Understand the latest research in social media and emerging payment platforms from the Tourism Events and Visitor Economy research specialists. 

Networking drinks and nibbles will be at the Wurinbeena Gallery in Lakes Entrance at the end of the day.

To  view the program and register please see here. For further information please contact Janine Hayes at jhayes@destinationgippsland.com.au

Gippsland has been featured in a range of international articles including Switzerland, Germany, and in Tigertales, Tiger Air's flagship magazine.

If you have newsworthy information, a new development or have introduced an innovative approach to your business then please contact Kelly McCarthy on kmccarthy@destinationgippsland.com.au

Local Gippsland businesses are invited to sign up to be part of the Loyalty Program as a way of encouraging visitation and/or spend in their business.

Mt Baw Baw attracts over 100,000 visitors during the declared Snow Season and around 100,000 during the Green Season. These visitors travel from all over Victoria, Interstate and from overseas to experience adventure at Mt Baw Baw. 

The Loyalty App has the follwoing major objectives:
● Increase visitation to the towns surrounding Mt Baw Baw
● Increase spend in the Gippsland towns surrounding Mt Baw Baw through this partner program
● Increase visitation and awareness of Mt Baw Baw

To register see here.

Gippsland Tourism Businesses are encouraged to participate in this program.  Nominations are now open for the 2019 RACV Victorian Tourism Awards. For more information on the 2019 Awards program visit www.victoriantourismawards.com.au.

Nominations close: Sunday 30 June 2019

Submissions due: 5pm Friday 6 September 2019

For further information contact Janine Hayes jhayes@destinationgippsland.com.au

Have you considered the importance of being an accessible business and welcoming visitors with accessible needs to Gippsland?  Please see the latest results from the Accessible Tourism in Australia and Victoria report which provides valuable insights.  Some key points for Victoria.

• Travellers with a disability who had taken at least one domestic trip (overnight and/or day trip) represented 7% (349,000) of Victoria’s adult population.
• Estimated spend for travellers with a disability was $680.1 million (approximately 4% of total domestic spend in Victoria), of which 80% was overnight spend.
•  To read more see here.

There is an Excellence in Accessible Tourism category in this year's Victorian Tourism Awards.  For information please see here.

The Regional Events Fund (REF) provides funding for activities that support regional visitation. The level of investment that Visit Victoria gives to an event is contingent on a rigorous assessment process.

Round 8 closes on 14 June.  For further details see here

Check into Social Media by tagging us in your posts.  To share using Gippsland Hashtags read more HERE.  To see what is trending in the social media world see HERE.

• Baw Baw Shire 
• Bass Coast Shire
• East Gippsland Shire
• Latrobe City 
• South Gippsland Shire 
• Wellington Shire Council 

Visit Destination Gippsland for a list of industry links to local and regional tourism associations and local government.  Industry Links.

The Gippsland Visitor Economy generates an estimated $1.2b in Gross Regional Product (11% of the total Gippsland economy). It supports 12,400 jobs (12% of all Gippsland employment) in over 3,000 businesses across every community in Gippsland. Tourism in Gippsland is everyone’s business.

Find out more about our Board of Directors here

Contact our team here