Visitors drawn to Grampians

AWimmera and Western District tourism leader has celebrated the attraction of Grampians destinations.

He has also highlighted continued enthusiasm tourists have for businesses in the region.

Grampians Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman said accommodation providers across the region reported a ‘bumper year’ despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The festive season was great and we still had a lot of day-trippers visiting the region in the early stages of the holidays,” he said.

“We saw occupancy levels at capacity right through that period, which was great for businesses that have done it tough during the past 12 months.

“We did see a slowdown of day visitors when cases began to rise again mid-way through January. However, visitors were still making use of any accommodation they had booked but were not venturing out and spending in the restaurants and shops.”

Mr Sleeman said he admired businesses across the region for adapting to difficult circumstances.

“I have seen an amazing job from businesses to also manage staff-isolation and close-contact disruptions in this strange period,” he said.

“They have adapted, changed and pivoted the best they could.”

Mr Sleeman said Grampians Tourism would continue to support businesses in 2022, as worker shortages remained a problem for the tourism industry.

“It really is a big issue for the whole region,” he said.

“We have been addressing this issue with our local, state and federal government partners, supporting Grampians tourism with industry-strengthening activities.

“The Grampians continues to be very appealing despite COVID-19 – the demand is still there.

“It is now about managing workforce issues. We have received $60,000 from the Victorian Government to try to manage worker-shortage issues and that is the area we will be focussed on for the next 12 months.”

Mr Sleeman said additional funding had enabled Halls Gap’s Grampians Grape Escape, a wine, food and music festival, to become a three-day rather than two-day celebration in May this year.

“It is the longest-running food and wine festival in Victoria and we know it attracts visitors from across Victoria and interstate,” he said.

“It is an exciting time for the Grampians region. It says, ‘we are back’.”

Mr Sleeman encouraged tourism-related businesses and industries to reach out to his organisation in 2022.

“If there are businesses in the Wimmera or Mallee that need support, we will be rolling out a range of industrystrengthening activities to support all business that rely on ‘visit economy spending’,” he said.