Shaping the tourism economy across macedon ranges

Representatives from the local tourism industry, councils and the Andrews Labor Government will come together in Macedon tonight for the Daylesford, Hepburn and Macedon Ranges Visitor Economy Symposium.

Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford said the Symposium was an important opportunity for the Labor Government to discuss ways to strengthen and create new opportunities for tourism across central Victoria.

A key focus of the Symposium will be looking for ways to better connect tourism opportunities in the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn Shire. Government is keen to hear directly from stakeholders operating in the region’s visitor economy which generates more than $287 million annually and employs more than 1,500 people locally. Mary -Anne Thomas said "after Phillip Island, Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges is the most visited destination in regional Victoria. This Symposium is a unique opportunity for locals and experts to tell us how we can further develop our incredible Macedon Ranges region tourism offerings and really take it to the next level."

The Symposium comes hot on the heels of the recent Central Highlands and Loddon Campaspe Regional Assemblies which gave locals an opportunity to tell Government their priorities for their regions.

The importance of tourism and investing in the Visitor Economy has been one of the regular themes to emerge from the Assembly process.

The Government also recently announced $120,000 to assess the proposal for an Institute of Gastronomy in Daylesford, $2.56 million for a 100 kilometre, purpose-built mountain bike trail in Creswick and $300,000 for the popular Campaspe River Trail in Kyneton.