Mudgee and Dubbo are expected to welcome tourists from Hong Kong as part of a new marketing campaign designed to generate increased visitor expenditure in rural and regional NSW, Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said today.
9 May 2017Mr Marshall joined Member for Dubbo Troy Grant today for the announcement and said the new Hong Kong Wing On Travel campaign would target tourists from Hong Kong and include new holiday packages with overnight stays in Mudgee and Dubbo.
“This is the first time the NSW Government, through Destination NSW, has partnered with a major Hong Kong travel agency to offer itineraries that deliver tourists directly to Mudgee and Dubbo,” Mr Marshall said.
“The aim of this campaign is to encourage travellers to explore rural and regional areas of our state by extending their trip beyond the fringes of Sydney.
“The campaign is expected to initially deliver around 500 tourists to different towns across rural and regional NSW, who will inject almost $1 million into those local visitor economies.”
Mr Marshall said growing tourism in rural and regional NSW was a top priority for the government and as a country-based Minister he was personally committed to this objective.
“The new itineraries will be promoted widely in Hong Kong, with newspaper and magazine advertisements, Facebook marketing as well as outdoor advertising wrapped around the city’s buses and trams,” he said.
Mr Grant said the campaign would deliver great benefits to the region.
“Hong Kong is a priority growth market for our State’s tourism industry and we know Hong Kong travellers will relish the fresh air, beautiful landscapes, delicious produce and attractions on offer in our region,” Mr Grant said.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo Director Matthew Fuller said “The positive flow-on effects of this campaign will be felt with more overnight stays and more tourist dollars ending up in the pockets of local businesspeople.”
“We are thrilled that this campaign will capitalise on the investment and product development we have undertaken over the past five years to develop unique, high quality experiences that are proving popular not only with domestic tourists but international visitors as well,” Mr Fuller said.
“We’re thrilled that regional destinations including the Zoo are being promoted to this international market. The region certainly has a lot to offer international visitors, including unique experiences and accommodation, great regional produce and so much natural beauty. We look forward to welcoming these visitors.”
Tourists will spend their first night in Dubbo after visiting Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Their second night will be spent in Mudgee where they will also experience a wine tour and enjoy some of the region’s fresh produce. The tourists will then travel back through Katoomba and the Blue Mountains before spending their final two nights in Sydney.
ENDS
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