By Cheryl Hammer, executive officer of Destination Goulburn Valley (DGV)
DESTINATION Goulburn Valley’s new look and a fresh way of telling our story to potential investors and visitors has got a lot of us up and about.
This coincides with a timely rebranding of Greater Shepparton City Council’s tourism message to the world, acknowledging that visitors are not guided by council boundaries, but are drawn in by unique experiences and great hospitality.
Two decades ago, when I launched my Lavender farmgate business and accommodation offering, there was little support for, and no belief in, tourism initiatives to drive visitation and new dollars to our region. I applaud the change of attitude but lament the time it has taken.
The present collective approach to promote our Goulburn Valley region as a fabulous place to visit is catching on with recent statistics demonstrating that people are choosing to visit our backyard for their holiday.
The pandemic, recent floods and storms, and the persistent high cost of living has hit hard most in the tourism industry, with some operators still recovering, but on the whole, we are shouting from the rooftops that we are worth a visit and will deliver experiences that sets us apart.
Our visitor economy is worth millions of dollars to our region, let’s keep the door open and celebrate who we are.
To learn more about DGV, please visit www.destinationgoulburnvalley.com.au
