International recognition for the Bellarine

THERE’S so much world and so little time, so choosing where we take our holidays can be hard.

So when friends and family return from a trip, we automatically place a lot of value on what they have to say about their destination.

It is these conversations and recommendations about locations that the Tourism Sentiment Index has measured.

It has analysed online posts to weigh up those places that visitors love the most – and not surprisingly, Geelong and the Bellarine are very highly regarded.

In the new Leading Places: The 100 Most Loved Destinations Around the World for 2021, the rankings for the Bellarine (25th) and Geelong (69th) show we’re competing on the global stage.

Receiving such a high ranking, during what has been a tumultuous and highly challenging year for those in the tourism industry, is a massive credit to our local operators.

They are clearly delivering the activities, attractions, food, wine and cultural experiences that people want to publicly praise.

Through our seven different COVID-19 support packages, council has been focused on helping our retail, hospitality and tourism businesses recover and prosper.

We’ve had outdoor dining and street entertainment programs; tourism and events campaigns, and marketing initiatives such as ‘It’s Our Backyard’ and ‘Embrace the Space’.

These have all aimed to get residents to think local first and to attract visitors in this challenging environment for interstate travel.

Being largely land locked these past two years has forced so many Australians to focus on more local and intrastate tourism experiences.

In November 2021, council contributed a further $200,000 to encourage more domestic tourists to the region.

The next campaign to roll out will rely heavily on our biggest ambassadors – which is where you come in.

As the Tourism Sentiment Index highlights, word of mouth is the best endorsement you can get.

And the biggest advocate for the high quality of the experiences, attractions, and lifestyle that Greater Geelong offers are the people who choose to live here.

Residents will be encouraged to play host, as we look to them to attract more friends and relatives to the region.

While here, they can double as a tour guide and showcase their favourite local activities and locations – all the while remembering that a ‘staycation’ can be almost as good as a holiday!

EVENTS CALENDAR

There is a lot to be excited about when looking at our major events calendar this year.

A highlight is the Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup, with the tournament to begin in Geelong in late October.

Sri Lanka and Namibia will be based in Geelong in the event’s early stages, with Kardinia Park to host a total of six matches. Before then, there’s premier events everywhere you look.

Ironman 70.3 Geelong and Pako Festa will be held in February; the Geelong Revival Motoring Festival returns in early March; and the All Ford Day in April.

The variety and vibrancy of our event attractions is just one of the reasons why Geelong is recognised as a high-quality place to live and visit.

However, it’s the grassroots events and initiatives that, together, add an intangible social and cultural value to our community life.

Council is proud to support local events, arts projects and cultural activities through our Community Grants program, which is worth more than $4.9 million in 2021-22.

There are now Quick Response Grants available to support groups and individuals in launching their next event or artistic initiative.

The $5000 Arts Projects grants aim to foster creativity and engage people in our vibrant arts scene, while we are also providing up to $10,000 to encourage the creation of moderate-sized events.

Events of this type help strengthen communities, provide opportunities for local residents to take part and deliver economic and social benefits to Greater Geelong.

We’ve recently provided a round of grants to a host of sport and recreation clubs, including a score from the Bellarine.

Recipients included the Bellarine Bears Baseball Club ($350,0000); Leopold Tennis Club ($65,000); Bellarine Woodworkers Inc ($35,300); Portarlington Cricket Club ($26,100) and Clifton Springs Tennis Club ($15,100).

The next round of community infrastructure grants is expected to open mid-February, with will help more organisations and groups grow after a couple of difficult years.

Visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au/grants for more information and to see how you can apply.

Cr Trent Sullivan
Deputy Mayor