By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM residents are being encouraged to get off the couch and explore everything their municipality has to offer.
A promotional DVD launched by Wyndham Mayor Heather Marcus and Destination Melbourne CEO Chris Buckingham last week aims to give residents the motivation to take in the local attractions.
Developed as part of the Discover Your Own Backyard campaign, an initiative of Destination Melbourne in partnership with Wyndham City, the DVD showcases the iconic Werribee Park Tourism Precinct, which last year hosted more than one million visitors from around the world.
Cr Marcus said Wyndham residents should be proud of what the city has to offer.
“The Discover Your Own Backyard campaign is about ensuring Wyndham residents are aware of our fantastic attractions, activities and events and tourism gems. You don’t have to travel outside the region to eat, stay and play,” Cr Marcus said.
“It’s estimated that approximately 60 per cent of our domestic visitors and 65 per cent of international visitors to Wyndham are family and friends, making our residents our greatest tourism ambassadors.”
Research conducted by the University of Ballarat and Victoria University across four Local Government Areas, including Wyndham, reveals the average spend by friends and relatives to Wyndham is $288, compared to $140 for other visitors.
“By creating more awareness of Wyndham’s attractions among residents, they’re more likely to share them with visiting friends and family, which will have flow-on effects for our economy and more money spent locally,” Cr Marcus said.
“The DVD will not only be used to promote our attractions to Wyndham residents, but also for wider tourism initiatives, including enticing more visitors from outside the region.”
The Wyndham Discover Your Own Backyard video can be viewed at www.dyob.com.au/wyndham
