GANNAWARRA Shire Council is playing a role within the tourism region with the formation of effective smaller clusters to work more closely on specific tourism projects.
Shire strategic development director, Chris White said that Gannawarra was grouped with Wakool (now Murray River Council) and Swan Hill, and discussions are ongoing regarding joint marketing and closer work in channelling visitors between the individual areas within the broader Murray Regional Tourism umbrella.
A range of marketing initiatives have been undertaken by MRT including regular media reports in the Herald Sun and The Age, Melbourne Boat Show, Caravan and Camping show and the Australian Open golf.
Council’s new dedicated tourism website project has been the biggest project to date and council is confident that this will have a major bearing on increasing visitation.
“Council has a key role to play in encouraging local businesses to become more involved with tourism marketing and to better understand tourism products and the tourism target market,” Mr White said.
The following key local projects have been recently completed or are currently in hand:
* Kerang – Events signage, Kerang promotional signs, canoe trail mapping and signage, material audit and upgrades to the Sir John Gorton Library visitor information section underway, new tourism signage at the library, RV camp discussions, events promotion, new touring map, upgrades to the visitor guide, local photography and video shots, Kerang-Cohuna-Koondrook television advertisement screening for three months.
* Cohuna – Events signs, forest and Murray River signs, events guide, touring maps, visitor guide advertising, photo shoots, new town entry signs, website, RV camp design and two marketing workshops.
* Koondrook – Town entry statement design ideas, Koondrook wharf opening plan, Koondrook nature-based tourism hub and Koondrook Caravan Park plans, touring map, Visitor guide advertising, website materials, local business development proposals.
* Leitchville – RV signage and support, new town entry designs, RV data collection.
* Lake Charm – new town entry signs, new tourism directional signs, lake signage, Reedy Lake RV park, Ski Racing Victoria discussions regarding coming season, local drives and touring routes.
* Quambatook – new town signs, RV parking discussions, caravan park upgrades, tractor pull promotions, event hosting.
* Murrabit – Miss Keats reserve upgrade, RV signage.
