A FIVE-YEAR Bendigo Region Destination Management Plan will continue to grow the tourism industry in central Victoria.

The plan includes the City of Greater Bendigo, Central Goldfields, Loddon and Mount Alexander municipalities.

Regional Development Victoria Loddon Mallee director Stan Liacos said the a solid, clear plan was important for all council involved.

“When you’re seeking state government support you have to show you’ve got a robust, carefully thought through and collaborative plan,” he said.

“This plan is vital to ensure tourism projects receive Victorian government support.”

The Bendigo Region Destination Management Plan will develop experiential products, infrastructure and enabling projects and accommodation.

Among the region’s main projects are region-wide winery tourism product development and marketing, the development of the Food Fossickers Network, village touring and branding, and the Ride Goldfields project.

In the Central Goldfields, there will be a focus on the Maryborough Cultural Art Precinct and the Maryborough services apartments and function centre.

The main project in the Loddon Shire will be improvements to the Bridgewater and Inglewood townships and foreshores.

Heathcote’s wine region and town centre will receive developments while Bendigo will continue to build its heritage attractions and positioning, grow its nighttime economy, continue to develop the Great Stupa and build more high quality accommodation.

Mount Alexander Shire will improve the Harcourt town centre, revitalise the Maldon Visitor Centre and exhibition spaces, improve the Castlemaine Diggings National Park and develop boutique accommodation.

After beginning the project with the City of Greater Bendigo before moving over to Regional Development Victoria, Mr Liacos said he was looking forward to seeing the four local government authorities working together.

“Bendigo and the entire region have made great progress but tourism is a competitive environment across Australia,” he said.

“So we have to as a region be clever, courageous, tenacious and collaborative. 

“We are a great region and I think the crystal ball is showing that this has great potential in tourism and other important industries.”

Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said the state government had recently announced significant funding to tourism.

“What was outstanding for me was the $101 million for Regional Tourism across Victoria,” she said.

“A number of projects in the plan will see shires needing to work together for funds as they identify what projects they want in the mix.”

FOUR local councils are excited at the prospect of working together to continue to improve central Victoria’s tourist attractions.

The City of Greater Bendigo council along with Central Goldfields, Mount Alexander and Loddon shires are all partners in the Bednigo Region Destination Management Plan that was launched on Friday.

When quizzed on the most exciting aspect of the plan, council representatives agreed the prospect of uniting to improve the region was top of the list.

City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann said the four municipalities working together would help keep tourists here for longer periods.

“To have four municipalities working closely together, that collaboration will really strengthen and give us an opportunity to build on the region,” he said.

“We don’t just want peaks and troughs, we don't want people to just visit when exhibitions are on. We want them to visit Bendigo and surrounds for its other strengths as well. 

“Municipal boundaries are for voting and rates. Tourists go right across the regions, so it is important to highlight the strengths of the different parts of the region.”

Central Goldfields tourism manager Joel Chadwick said the shire’s association with other councils had paid dividends.

“Working together with the other three municipalities for one ultimate goal of enhancing tourism right across the region is a huge step forward for Central Goldfields,” he said.

“It’s only been in recent years that we have been a part of Bednigo Regional Tourism and we have had some great initiatives and developments that have happened as a result of working together.

“Central Goldfields is looking at developing the arts and culture industry and some of key infrastructures are also a focus.”

Bendigo Regional Tourism manager Kathryn Mackenzie said it was exciting to bring the four councils together.

“It was very seamless and it makes sense to have complimentary projects that have us work together,” she said.

“We want to build vibrant regional destinations will get Melbournites and interstate travellers into regional Victoria and we all need to work together to achieve that. 

“One destination alone won’t achieve that.”

Central Victoria’s online tourism presence will be completely revamped under the Bendigo Region Destination Management Plan.

The plan said the content was of good quality, digital issues included poor social media integration, outdated design and lack of cross promotion between different tourism aspects.

Tourism websites from the City of Greater Bendigo, Central Goldfields, Mount Alexander and Loddon shires will be combined into a one regional tourism website.

Regional Development Victoria Loddon Mallee director Stan Liacos said it was extremely important to be conscious of how modern consumers operate. 

“We have the attractions that are high quality, unique and fascinating but we also need to be nimble and clever in the way we engage with consumers in a digital fashion,” he said.

“We must never lose good old fashioned customer service and human engagement.

“But in today’s environment we need to be clever with digital connections.”