Best showcased in new guide

BENDIGO and Heathcote’s best attractions have been compiled for this year’s edition of the region’s official visitor guide.

The booklet was launched last week and includes cultural, historical, food, family, and nature experiences.

Manager of tourism and major events at the City of Greater Bendigo, Terry Karamaloudis, said the guide showcased the municipality’s unique offerings.

“The value that it adds is that it’s an information piece for our visitors and hopefully leads them to stay a little bit longer in our city, spend a little bit more money and enjoy what a wonderful city Greater Bendigo is,” he said.

In 2019, almost five million people visited the region, with the vast majority travelling from within Victoria and Australia.

“It’s a huge market that comes to our city and region so a document like this for that sector is very valuable,” Mr Karamaloudis said.

About 80,000 visitors were from international locations that year and Mr Karamaloudis said he looked forward to welcoming them back from 21 February when the country’s border is reopened.

“A lot of things have changed in the last couple of years, we’ve got new attractions, offerings, things for people to come and see and do and you’ll find the best of the best of it in this publication,” he said.

Bendigo Tourism board chair Kathie Bolitho said research conducted to make the guide revealed a hard copy resource was important to tourists.

“Our research advised us that we have a large cohort of travellers who are actually suffering from digital fatigue, so they are still looking for a printed guide,” she said.

“The kind of things that people are looking for are… immersive and interactive experiences, and Bendigo is really good at that.”

The Djaara Lights project also features in the guide and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation’s communications relationship manager Mariaa Randall said sharing the stories of the region’s First Peoples was particularly important.

“Bringing people in to learn more about the Traditional Owners is a really great acknowledgment of the work people have put in as part of the project,” she said.