Sugarloaf pipeline will not affect tourism

FROM THE MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND MAJOR EVENTS

DATE: Thursday, April 3, 2008

Tourism and Major Events Minister, Tim Holding has dismissed claims that tourism in the Yarra Valley will be affected by the construction of the Sugarloaf Pipeline.

Mr Holding, who is also Water Minister, said tourism to the region remained strong and would be unaffected by the construction of the pipeline.

“The Sugarloaf Pipeline will not impact on tourism to the region,” Mr Holding said.

“Melbourne Water will be working with tourism operators including wineries along the pipeline route to ensure disruptions are reduced to a minimum during construction.

“The Yarra Valley region will continue to attract huge numbers of local, interstate and international visitors to Victoria.”

Mr Holding said recent reports suggesting a decline in visitor numbers were incorrect and that visitor numbers to the region have increased significantly over the past year.

“During 2007 domestic daytrip visitation to the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Region grew by 21.8% over the previous year to reach 2.7 million visitors,” he said.

“Over the same period, domestic overnight visitation to the region also grew by 9.4% to reach 626,000 visitors.

“There was also an increase in international overnight visitors to the region during 2007 with an increase of 21.3% over the previous year.”

Last year the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Region was allocated $600,000 as part of the State Government’s Regional Marketing Program.

A new $150,000 brand campaign for the Dandenong Ranges was also launched in September, tag-lined Visit Make Believe. The campaign aims to encourage more visitors to discover the natural beauty of the Dandenong Ranges region.

“This new campaign along with the Yarra Valley’s hugely successful You’ll Never Want to Leave brand campaign, has helped the region to successfully promote its key strengths of gourmet food and wine experiences, natural attractions and its close proximity to Melbourne,” Mr Holding said.

Regional Victoria is a vital part of the Victorian tourism industry. In regional Victoria, tourism is worth $3.4 billion annually and is responsible for 61,000 jobs.