A full-day tourism conference in Bendigo in February will focus on attracting the next generation of visitors to the region.
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Bendigo NEXT will cover topics including designing unique experiences and marketing techniques as well as featuring expert speakers, workshops and network opportunities.
The conference is perfectly timed with Qantas flights between Bendigo and Sydney beginning in late March.
City of Greater Bendigo manager of tourism and major events Terry Karamaloudis said the conference would help tourism operators prepare for the future.
“The City has a role to play in the attraction of new visitors to the region but we’re not the only agent involved in that,” he said.
“Form the City's perspective, we’re looking for more (from the tourism industry) and a way to assist that is to be certain that we are up to speed with industry trends, helping operators, investing in region and putting our best foot forward.”
Mr Karamaloudis said the Bendigo to Sydney air travel is an amazing opportunity for Bendigo and the broader region.
“It really is a gateway to broader regions and experiences that exist in Bendigo and surrounding areas like Mount Alexander, Loddon, Central Goldfields regions as well as galleries, theatres and attractions in Bendigo,” he said.
“New South Wales as a sector is now just an air trip away, that's very exciting for us.”
Bendigo Tourism Board chair Finn Vedelsby said the new flights in and out of Bendigo made the world smaller.
“They say half of Melbourne visits rural Victoria, so you can imagine how much (it means) when half of Sydney can come to Bendigo too,” he said.
“It is an opportunity to build some experience for that market but also open up to a whole new demographic.
“This is the inaugural (Bendigo NEXT) conference and lot of effort has gone in to it. If we can maintain the trajectory as a leader in the tourism industry, I think it will turn to an annual thing.”
Bendigo Heritage Attractions chief executive Peter Abbott said the announcement of flights between Bendigo and Sydney had produced great excitement in the city.
He said there was already a strong interstate market that visited Bendigo.
“We (are already) part of the Sydney to Melbourne touring route that we have worked with to promote Bendigo as a stopover,” he said.
“Even in the tram workshop have clients who we restore trams for in Sydney, they will be able to fly direct to Bendigo and that's exciting.”
Golden Dragon Museum general manager Anita Jack said the idea of attracting visitors from Sydney to Bendigo would help support significant events.
“I think this link makes it a lot easier for people support the museum and activities for significant events like Chinese New Year, Easter, and the Harvest Moon Festival. It’s very exciting,” she said.
The museum is preparing for it’s most significant Easter parade ever with all of Bendigo’s processional dragons, including original dragon Loong, to parade together for the first time.
“It’s the most significant thing the (Bendigo Chinese community) has done since settling here 130 years ago,” she said.
“We have received gifts from the New South Wales government into our collection because Sydney and New South Wales don’t have Chinese-Australian museum.”
Robe owner Fiona Rooke said small businesses had potential to benefit from easier access to Sydney.
“From a small business perspective that focuses on Australian made and designed ranges, it means I can go to Sydney more often buying and sourcing product,” she said.
“Cutting out the time and cost of being on the road to Tullamarine will mean trips to Sydney are far more accessible and affordable.
“Our various tourism sectors combine to provide our visitors with an experience that is engaging.”
The Bendigo NEXT conference is on February 18 at The Capital. For more information email tourism@bendigo.vic.gov.au
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