Nature-based tourism such as experienced in the Dandenongs will be the focus of a major drive to boost international visitors. 18690
By Tania Martin
THE Dandenong Ranges’ pristine environment will be a major asset for a State Government push to attract big-spending international visitors.
The Government outlined plans earlier this month to promote nature tourism.
The four-year strategy, released on 10 September, highlighted nature getaways and retreats as one of the fastest growing tourism sectors.
Dandenong Ranges Tourism (DRT) Information Centre manager Michael Axel said nature activities such as bushwalking were already popular in the Dandenongs.
But, he said, any added promotion of the area would be a boost.
“Our temperate rain forests, bushwalking, parks, and gardens are major attractions up here and we are fortunate to have this environment within half an hour of the south-eastern suburbs,” Mr Axel said.
Tourism Minister Tim Holding said the government was taking action to boost international and domestic visitation and capitalise on what had become a world-wide demand for nature getaways.
He said the sector was one of the biggest growing markets, with 77 per cent of international and 37 per cent of domestic visitors undertaking at least one nature trip or activity.
“Our national parks attract the highest visitor numbers in Australia,” he said.
Mr Holding said despite 28.6 million people visiting protected park areas in 2004/05, research indicated Victoria was not a top priority for nature trips.
“This strategy will help improve our performance in this sector,” he said.
Mr Axel said DRT and US Bus Lines had recently released a tourism map of local walking maps.
He said since the release of the map it had become the most popular item for tourists to pick up from the information centre in Upper Ferntree Gully.
Mr Axel said nature tourism was definitely growing.
“It’s certainly getting more and more popular every year; we have more and more people walking through the area,” he said.
“Virtually every international visitor who calls into the centre is looking for places to walk.”
