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Mr Budge said if the bid succeeds, the benefits for Greater Bendigo and other places in the Victorian Goldfields will be far-reaching, with a significant increase in tourism from across the world wanting to experience our gold rush story.<\/p>\n
“The economic modelling forecasting estimates a Victorian Goldfields World Heritage site could attract 2.5 million new visitors to the region over 10 years, injecting more than $500 million into local economies,” he said.<\/p>\n
“A World Heritage Listing would [also] help conserve our heritage.<\/p>\n
“There’s a lot of people right across the Victorian Goldfields that are working to try and conserve our heritage, [and] this gives an even bigger focus to it.”<\/p>\n
Mr Budge also explained that World Heritage branding is the most recognised brand globally in terms of tourism and its quality.<\/p>\n
“You don’t expect to see [it] linked with something that’s not reasonably important or of reasonable quality, so it’s a designation about those places which really are of outstanding universal value,” he said.<\/p>\n
The Victorian Goldfields bid is expected to be formally submitted to UNESCO in February next year, with a final outcome likely to be determined after mid-2027.<\/p>\n
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A GROUP of interested community members and key stakeholders gathered at the La Trobe Art Institute earlier this week to learn about the ongoing bid to obtain a coveted World Heritage listing for the Victorian Goldfields. The discussion focused on informing attendees about the positive outcomes if the bid is successful. The Victorian Goldfields are […]<\/p>\n