That is one of the messages impressed on attendees of a tourism forum last week, co-hosted by Berrigan Shire and Moira Shire councils.
Hosted at the Tocumwal Brewery, which opened earlier this year, it attracted about 50 tourism operators and stakeholders from across both council areas.
Guest speaker was Bendigo Heritage Trust chair Tom Smith, who said while museums still have their place, visitors are increasingly looking for unique experiences when deciding where to holiday.
Berrigan Shire Councillor Matt Hannan highlighted the forum’s venue as a brilliant example of how new ideas can drive tourism and local growth, highlighting that its opening earlier this year was a plan four years in the making.
Cr Hannan said key to providing what visitors want will be strengthening collaboration across the sector.
He spoke passionately about the emerging importance of tourism in small town rural Australia as the target for economic growth, in addition to the traditional sectors of agriculture and manufacturing.
Cr Hannan noted that tourism numbers have been steadily increasing since the COVID pandemic, and in some instances are reaching and exceeding pre-COVID heights.
Forum participants also learned about the ways the councils are working to drive tourism and the economy, and were provided with opportunities to share ideas and network among themselves.
Designed as a relaxed networking evening, the event helped to highlight the vital role tourism plays in strengthening local economies while offering a platform for collaboration, new ideas, and mutual support across the two shires.
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