Getting back in the groove
THE new year has begun and we’re starting to get our groove back.
It’ll take some time, though, after a year that really knocked the wind out of the sails of a tourism sector that — until COVID — had been at the top of its game.
This is a time to look forward with optimism and enthusiasm.
Our work developing brands that showcase the destinations across our region — from the You Yangs to Queenscliff, all over Geelong and The Bellarine — highlight the broad offer and a place that is, for visitors, Greater Than > the Sum of its Parts.
It’s all the aspects, all the businesses, all the environments, all the adventures, all the tastes working together that make Geelong and The Bellarine so compelling.
Those things driving visitation provide the confidence that is driving a pipeline of infrastructure investment in the tourism sector that will shore up our future growth.
New accommodation businesses at The Ritz and further plans at Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Old Post Office, Quest, Miramar, Gordon Avenue and two in Ryrie Street are a welcome addition to the regional room stock.
Other plans at Novotel, Quality Hotel, the previous Geelong Conference
Centre site in Eastern Park,
Curlewis Golf Club and further developments in Portarlington will provide more choice and grow the capacity of the region to attract more higher yielding, overnight stays.
Arriving by water from Melbourne, Sorrento and, shortly, Tasmania, provides options for the regional tourism industry to partner with those transport providers to boost patronage and deliver better experiences that encourage longer stays with more activities.
We’ll support the team at Avalon Airport as it works to build the flight schedule from Australia and abroad when the time is right.
There are masterplans in progress that will have a
significant role in rebuilding tourism and providing local communities with access to new and improved facilities in places such as central Geelong, the You Yangs, Bellarine coastlines and the Bellarine Railway.
The staggered return of events to full capacity, improved access, better infrastructure and experiences alongside an accommodation portfolio that will allow the region to best capitalise on these improvements is something to truly look forward to.
Tourism has a bright future in Geelong and The Bellarine.