A Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government is backing Victoria's nursery and garden industry with a $250,000 funding commitment to develop a comprehensive Garden Tourism Strategy.
Covering metropolitan and regional Victoria, this will be an additional offering to boost visitation numbers.
We have an opportunity to take advantage of Victoria's wonderful public and private gardens through the development of a Garden Tourism Strategy, which to date has been relatively untapped in Victoria.
Internationally, more people in the USA visit public gardens than Disneyland and Disneyworld combined. In Britain, it is the third most popular activity, ahead of visiting a museum, castle, historic house, or art gallery.
Victoria has some spectacular gardens including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ballarat Botanical Gardens, Alowyn Gardens, and Victoria State Rose Garden in Werribee as well as links to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
Development of a Garden Tourism Strategy will go hand in hand with the $250,000 Caravan Industry Association funding to develop a comprehensive 'Drive Tourism' Caravan and Camping Strategy.
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Cindy McLeish said developing a Garden Tourism Strategy is an exciting opportunity to really showcase what Victorian gardens have to offer.
"Visiting gardens provides inspiration to budding gardeners and inspiration for people's own homes, while getting people outdoors and moving around the state."
"Victoria has so much in the way of outdoor attractions, a large variety of gardens included."
"Only the Liberals and Nationals know how important tourism is in Victoria, and enhancing visitor's experience of public and private gardens is a vital part of that."
