Over 30 representatives from the tourism industry in the Moira Shire recently gathered for a networking breakfast, discussions on future opportunities, and to recap on key tourism achievements in the past 12 months.
The breakfast was hosted by Moira Shire Council and held at Max's on the Lake in Yarrawonga, with attendees including representatives from Moira Shire Council, Berrigan Shire Council, various clubs, accommodation providers, agritourism and retail businesses.
During the event, participants were updated on upcoming engagement opportunities relating to tourism, economic development, and events. Additionally, they received a summary of key tourism and marketing highlights for the past 12 months.
In 2023, the Sun Country on the Murray region, which encompasses the Moira, Berrigan and Federation shire areas, saw 986,000 domestic visitors. A total of 40,995 brochures were distributed from 38 visitor information points, and Moira Shire Council's mobile visitor information centre attended 57 events, handling 4,851 face-to-face enquiries.
Moira Shire Council Administrator Graeme Emonson PSM, who welcomed attendees to the networking event, stated that these statistics highlight the importance of tourism to our region.
"The tourism industry is a vital component of the local economy in Moira Shire, creating approximately 820 jobs, supporting businesses, and attracting investment. We live in a beautiful part of the world – the natural landscape, recreational activities and events all draw visitors to our area," said Dr Emonson.
"The diverse tourism offerings in the Moira Shire play a crucial role in maintaining the region's economic vitality and liveability."
The tourism networking event also served as a platform to share news of the upcoming Dollar Discovery campaign, set to take place each weekend in August. This event will offer the hospitality and tourism industries a chance to showcase their businesses to locals and tourists through unique offerings. A map of participating businesses will be available in July.
