Great Ocean Road visitors urged to be wary of ‘naughty things’

GREAT Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORRT) has launched a new campaign that aims to ensure visitors have a great holiday this summer and “Beware the Naughty Things”.

The “Naughty Things” like to tempt and trick visitors into doing things that are not safe for them, the environment, locals or other visitors.

The new campaign is a reminder to the community to be conscious of the impact our actions and behaviour have on others and the environment in which we live and visit.

It uses quirky animated characters such as Slippery Cliff, Flick Daway and Ani Malpest to call out and symbolise some of the “naughty behaviour” communities want people to be aware of.

Whether it is a Naughty Thing tempting you to pat the wildlife, leave litter behind, trespass on private property or jump a fence for a selfie, visitors are warned not to fall for their tricks.

The campaign urges everyone to stay safe while visiting the Great Ocean Road region.

It seeks to draw attention to some of the challenging behaviours that could affect other holidaymakers and have a negative impact on the locals.

It is also a timely reminder for visitors to plan ahead and allow more time to get the best out of their holiday.

“The campaign aims to foster a deeper respect for communities and the environment and highlight the impacts that careless behaviour can have,” Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism general manager Liz Price said.

“While the campaign takes a tongue-in-cheek approach in calling out bad behaviour, we by no means intend to trivialise the issues.

“It’s important to us that the campaign breaks through the clutter and gets people’s attention, encouraging the right behaviour, all of the time.”

While most people do the right thing, some people do not realise the consequences of their actions for themselves, or the unintended consequences on the environment or the communities they visit.

Ms Price said everyone could help by setting a good example.

“If we all demonstrate the right way to behave, in physical locations and with what we share on social media, we can have a positive impact and help to ensure everyone stays safe and travels happy”.

For more information about responsible visitation along and near the Great Ocean Road, head to greatoceanroadtourism.org.au/responsible-visitation