THERE’S so much world and so little time, so choosing where we take our holidays can be hard.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It is these conversations and recommendations about locations that the Tourism Sentiment Index has measured.<\/p>\n
It has analysed online posts to weigh up those places that visitors love the most \u2013 and not surprisingly, Geelong and the Bellarine are very highly regarded.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
They are clearly delivering the activities, attractions, food, wine and cultural experiences that people want to publicly praise.<\/p>\n
Through our seven different COVID-19 support packages, council has been focused on helping our retail, hospitality and tourism businesses recover and prosper.<\/p>\n
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’.<\/p>\n
These have all aimed to get residents to think local first and to attract visitors in this challenging environment for interstate travel.<\/p>\n
Being largely land locked these past two years has forced so many Australians to focus on more local and intrastate tourism experiences.<\/p>\n
In November 2021, council contributed a further $200,000 to encourage more domestic tourists to the region.<\/p>\n
The next campaign to roll out will rely heavily on our biggest ambassadors \u2013 which is where you come in.<\/p>\n
As the Tourism Sentiment Index highlights, word of mouth is the best endorsement you can get.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Residents will be encouraged to play host, as we look to them to attract more friends and relatives to the region.<\/p>\n
While here, they can double as a tour guide and showcase their favourite local activities and locations \u2013 all the while remembering that a ‘staycation’ can be almost as good as a holiday!<\/p>\n
EVENTS CALENDAR<\/p>\n
There is a lot to be excited about when looking at our major events calendar this year.<\/p>\n
A highlight is the Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup, with the tournament to begin in Geelong in late October.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
However, it’s the grassroots events and initiatives that, together, add an intangible social and cultural value to our community life.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
There are now Quick Response Grants available to support groups and individuals in launching their next event or artistic initiative.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Events of this type help strengthen communities, provide opportunities for local residents to take part and deliver economic and social benefits to Greater Geelong.<\/p>\n
We’ve recently provided a round of grants to a host of sport and recreation clubs, including a score from the Bellarine.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au\/grants for more information and to see how you can apply.<\/p>\n
Cr Trent Sullivan
\nDeputy Mayor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n