The Bendigo Tourism Board hopes to increase its membership level to improve the region's marketabiliity and help have a louder voice in the state''s tourism sector.
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Board chair Finn Vedelsby said the Bendigo Tourism Board had just completed a review of its goals with increased membership high on the priority list. Currently, the board has about 250 members.
"What we want is more memberships so that when we shout to (the Victoria Tourism Industry Council) or the government, they listen to Bendigo," he said. "We want the power of numbers to influence advocacy for the region.
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"Our voice is heard at the highest levels of government, that is the feedback given to us by (tourism minister) Martin Pakula when he was here for the Top Tourism Town awards.
"He highlighted how surveys and information fed from small businesses through Bendigo Tourism Board (along with) our relationship with local councils is inspirational and all the work we have done has been heard and affected decision-making at the highest level to support our industry through difficult times."
Mr Vedlesby said the organisation hoped to see more "second tier" business who benefit from tourism events signing up.
"We have around 250 members but something high on the priority list is to get business that are second tier, who benefit from tourism by making Bendigo a more vibrant city," he said.
"These businesses are not necessarily in the tourism industry but do benefit from visitation."
Mr Vedelsby said "second tier" businesses would include supermarkets, health professionals, lawyers, accountants and tyre or car-based retailers.
'We're talking about (businesses) who are full every time we have an event on," he said. "People come to a local caravan park but businesses just round the corner (or who supply) from that caravan park can double their revenue for a weekend when people visit for Groovin the Moo or White Night.
"If the businesses who provide services thrive because of tourism it gives everybody something good to do."
Mr Vedelsby said the Bendigo Tourism Board would continue doing the best work it could for the region's tourism industry.
"It is a long road ahead for every tourism business," he said. "Today for example was supposed to be White Night with 80,000 people flooding the streets of Bendigo."
Businesses interested in joining Bendigo Tourism can start with tourism supporters membership with $320 a year.
"That small contribution will make a massive contribution to marketing the region and supporting businesses doing it tough," Mr Vedelsby said.
Membership is free this financial year to support businesses. For more details visit www.bendigotourism.partners/partnership
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