Attractions on the road to stardom
A PAIR of Great Ocean Road townships are in the running to be named the state’s top tourism destinations.
Finalists were named for the Top Tourism Town Awards on Thursday.
Aireys Inlet and Apollo Bay are both vying for the title of Top Small Tourism Town, alongside 14 other Victorian visitor destinations.
Geelong, Surf Coast and Bellarine residents are encouraged to get behind the popular towns, with public voting for the winner of the title to be open for three weeks.
Other towns in the running to be named Victoria’s Top Small Tourism Town are Avoca, Beaufort, Dunkeld, Fingal, Great Western, Halls Gap, Heathcote, Jamieson, Mallacoota, Nagambie, Paynesville, Port Fairy, San Remo and Timboon.
Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said the top tourism towns award was a new addition to the Victorian Tourism Awards program.
“We’re calling on every Victorian to cast their vote and show their support for our domestic tourism industry,” Ms Mariani said.
“The sector has been rocked this
year by the challenges of COVID-19 restrictions on our operations.
“Every tourism product across Victoria has been affected and every business has worked so hard to survive the past 12 months.
“Now is the time for us to acknowledge what regional towns and centres have done to revitalise their tourism experiences and welcome visitors back.”
The winner of the Top Small Tourism Town Award will receive $10,000 worth of airtime with Prime7, and progress to the nationals for a chance to be named Australia’s Top Tourism Town.