By Tamara Ristevski
In a couple of weeks, all Victorians are invited to get out and take part in one of the 60 plus activities taking place across the state for the first ever Victoria Tourism Week, running from 6 to 11 September.
Victoria Tourism Week has been developed by the tourism industry in conjunction with Destination Melbourne and encourages tourism businesses and organisations in Melbourne and regional Victoria to celebrate tourism and promote the benefits to the wider community.
Victoria Tourism Week is designed to help people understand the social and economic contribution the tourism industry makes to the community. The tourism industry is responsible for 7.1 per cent of Victorian employment, and contributes $15.8 billion (5.9 per cent) to our Gross State Product.
It’s hoped the event will result in improved experiences for all tourists, from within and outside Victoria, and identify meaningful career paths for individuals seeking a career in tourism.
Chris Buckingham from Destination Melbourne also highlights the importance of Victoria Tourism Week, stating there will be significant discussion during event about the multi-billion dollar contribution the industry makes to the Victorian economy. The sheer scale and size of the tourism industry needs to be defined as much by the people who work in it as it is by the dollars counted by Treasury officials.
If you drop into one of the more than 60 planned events during Victoria Tourism Week, we’d love to hear if it has opened your eyes to the value of tourism to your local community.
More information about Victoria Tourism Week can be found at the Victoria Tourism Industry Council website.
