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A Great Future For Tourism

‘You’ll fall in love with East Gippsland; naturally!’

By East Gippsland Regional Business & Tourism Association, Inc. - 28th August 2006 - Back to News

According to the president of the East Gippsland Regional Business and Tourism Association, Geoff Brooks;

the future of business, tourism and economic development generally, in the region, is definitely looking a whole

lot healthier, after an era of uncertainty. "You’d better get ready, because we’re really heading on the up and up".

"The EGRBTA is now celebrating being in its second year of operation, and is busily preparing for the official launch of the new East Gippsland Official Visitors Guide, which will be a terrific promotional tool for encouraging

tourists to come and experience the East Gippsland difference. It encapsulates the themes of a Paradise Found".

"Although the nation is always wary of the next interest rate rise, and of course the rising price of fuel, people will always need and want a holiday, or even a quick weekend escape to recharge the batteries, before having to go back to the grindstone, so to speak. Well we’re promoting East Gippsland as the ideal place, to choose as their

next and preferred holiday destination. You might even forget to leave!" adds Geoff hinting at the Seachange Effect.

"And there are numerous other initiatives coming to fruition, or are currently in the pipeline. For example, there are branding development campaigns underway for both Gippsland and the East Gippsland sub region, as well as the finalisation of the East Gippsland Tourism Strategic Plan, which is getting close to launch. It’s all good" said Geoff.

Public Officer of the EGRBTA, and an industry representative on the East Gippsland Shire Tourism Advisory Board,

Clint Eastwood agrees wholeheartedly. "I’m extremely proud to be involved, as a part of this new era for our region.

I am quite confident that this positive economic outlook for ‘the entire East Gippsland region’ is certainly not just a once off. We have a steadily growing population, increasing development and investment, and a building sense of pride and optimism. East Gippsland is a very special place, as many people are slowly discovering for themselves".

One major aspect of this brighter future, is the great working relationships that the EGRBTA has formed both

within East Gippsland, and externally as well. "We now have an improved and simplified hierarchical structure,

with all relevant groups and stakeholders finally working together cooperatively and constructively" explains Clint.

"We’re working with Tourism Alliance Victoria, Destination Gippsland, Great Alpine Road Committee, and others.

But the greatest strategic partnership of this ‘regional tourism transformation’ has been the excellent working relationship with the East Gippsland Shire. The EGRBTA is indeed grateful for the terrific support of our shire".

"With pretty much the whole region covered, we finally have an independent and directly representative industry body for the business and tourism sector that brings benefits to us all in some way. The economy is interlocked".

"There are still a few ‘smaller towns’ that we would love to see get involved, such as Lindenow, Dargo and the Tambo Valley, as well as the ones along the coast like Lake Tyers Beach, Nowa Nowa, Marlo, Bemm River and Cann River. I reckon we’ll get to be the envy of many other regions, considering our geographic size and small population. We’ve done pretty damn well in a fairly short space of time, and the best is yet to come" said Clint.

"This steady stream of good news is just what the community needs to hear, and really shows that yes, at last things are heading in the right direction. But let’s not become complacent. We can’t rest on our laurels, as there

is still a long way to go, and a lot more work to be done" added Clint.

The inaugural Annual General Meeting of the EGRBTA will be held on Wednesday 27th September at 5:30pm.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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