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New visitor guide launched by MinisterVictoria’s Minister for Tourism, John Pandazopoulos, launched the new visitor guide for West and Central Gippsland called ‘Experience Gippsland’ at the Drouin West Fruit and Berry Farm on Wednesday. By Latrobe City Council - 22nd August 2003 - Back to News Michelle Toppin, Council’s Tourism Development Co-ordinator, said the guide is a comprehensive handbook for visitors and locals alike containing information on the region’s major attractions from Drouin in the West to Sale in the East; and from Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort in the North through to the Ninety Mile Beach in the South, and all points in between.
"Maps of popular touring routes are included along with events, the arts, food, wine and all types of accommodation. Experience Gippsland is produced with the cooperative support of the Baw Baw, Latrobe and Wellington Councils and has the official endorsement of Tourism Victoria," Ms Toppin explained.
"Almost 100,000 copes of the Guide will be produced each year and will be distributed through the extensive Visitor Information Centre network across Victoria and interstate. It will also used as a promotional tool at the many consumer shows Latrobe City attends under the tourism banner of ‘Experience Gippsland’, such as the Melbourne Caravan and Camping Show," Ms Toppin said.
"Copies of the publication will be provided for local conference and festival organisers on request, and it is featured on board The Spirit of Tasmania as the first point of Victorian tourism information for visitors crossing Bass Strait from Tasmania."
Ms Toppin said the launch of Experience Gippsland at the Fruit and Berry Farm had in itself been enthralling. Watched by a large crowd Janine Hayes of Traralgon’s Aerial Skydives, thrilled those at the launch by skydiving from 2000 metres to hand the new guide to Ross McDermott, President of Yarragon Village Tourism Association, who then presented the guide to the Minister to officially launch.
Minister Pandazopoulos was complimentary of the area’s tourism potential and of the alliance between the Gippsland Councils. "The promotional work being done as a cooperative project between the Councils of Gippsland is commendable, and quality publications such as ‘Experience Gippsland’ can only assist to raise the profile of the tourism product of the region," Mr Pandazopoulos said.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Graeme Middlemiss, said West and Central Gippsland had enormous potential for tourism. "Experience Gippsland contains quality information on the host of scenic, sporting, adventure, historic, gourmet, and entertainment attractions our region has to offer. It provides a thousand enticing reasons for people to want to come and visit our region, and those visitors significantly benefit our local economy," Cr Middlemiss said.
The Experience Gippsland Visitor Guide is produced twice a year with features that reflect both Winter and Summer activities for our region. The current edition profiles Mt Baw Baw and the Great Victorian Bike Ride that will be held later this year in Gippsland.
"Plans are underway already for the Summer edition and I invite all businesses who see visitors to our area as their potential customers to contact me to become involved," Ms Toppin added.
Experience Gippsland is available locally at the Latrobe Visitor Information Centre and all Council offices and advertisers’ businesses.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

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