> News from Tourism
THE ADVENTURE TRAVEL FILM FESTIVAL
24-26 February 2012, Alpine Visitor Information Centre Bright
Some of the world’s finest and rarest travel movies are to feature at Australia’s first ever Adventure Travel Film Festival.
Hosted and curated by Brit adventurers, film-maker Austin Vince and travel author Lois Pryce, The Adventure Travel Film Festival has graced the UK and the USA but this is its first trip down under! The festival offers a weekend of inspirational talks, workshops and hanging out amongst the fabulous scenery of the Great Alpine Valleys, not to mention the celluloid backdrop of some of the greatest travel films ever made.
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FREE ON-SITE ENVIRONMENTAL OPPORTUNITY ASSESSMENTS
Tourism Victoria is partnering with VECCI Sustainability Services to help regional tourism businesses save on water, waste and energy costs through a trial environmental opportunity assessment program. At a time of increasing utility costs, on-site environmental opportunity assessments are an excellent first step towards cutting costs and improving your environmental performance.
Tourism businesses in the Bright and Harrietville areas are invited to register their interest in having a FREE on-site environmental opportunity assessment completed on their operations by an experienced VECCI Sustainability Consultant. During the two hour site visit the consultant will help identify resource and money saving opportunities by conducting an inspection of the business with a business representative. This will help identify immediate, low or no cost opportunities, as well as medium to long term, or higher investment opportunities.
Following the visit, a tailored sustainability report will be provided to each business outlining findings and short, medium and long term recommendations. In addition, to help implement the recommendations, participants will receive a 12 month membership of VECCI’s Grow Me the Money 12 Step on-line program designed to help small-to-medium sized businesses become more sustainable and save money. The total package of on-site assessment and Grow Me the Money membership is normally valued at more than $600, this trial program is offering these services for no charge at all.
Businesses wishing to register their interest or obtain further information should contact VECCI Sustainability Services on 8662 5196. As spaces are limited and offered on a first come, first serve basis, businesses are strongly encouraged to register their interest early to avoid disappointment. The successful businesses will be contacted by VECCI to arrange an appointment. Please note that the assessments will take place in the area from 22 to 24 November 2011.
The program is an initiative of Tourism Victoria in partnership with VECCI and supported by the Alpine Shire Council and has been designed to encourage the uptake of environmental sustainability practices by Victorian tourism businesses.
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2011 ALPINE SHIRE BUSINESS & TOURISM AWARDS
The Business & Tourism Awards have wrapped up again for another year, thank you to all the Alpine Shire businesses who entered and well done to all those who received People’s Choice nominations from satisfied customers.
The judges were impressed with the variety and high standard of businesses that participated, there were 19 businesses who nominated under an Excellence category and a further 13 businesses were voted by more than 90 members of the public as their choice for best in the Alpine Shire.
Congratulations to this year’s winners and thank you to all who attended the presentations on Saturday 22 October in the new Alpine Shire Marquee.
Excellence in Retail
Sassy Road – Mount Beauty
Excellence in Professional Services
Kiewa Valleys Sports & Spinal Physiotherapy – Mount Beauty
Excellence in Accommodation
BIG4 Porepunkah Holiday Park
Excellence in Providing a Culinary Experience
Villa Gusto – Buckland
Excellence in Tourism Attractions / Activities
Bright Brewery
People’s Choice Award
Sole e Luna – Bright
Business of the Year
Coral Lee – Bright
SUMMER CALENDAR OF EVENTS - ONLINE NOW
Our Summr calendar of events is available on our website now, the printed version will be available through our Visitor Information Centres from 18 November. Showcasing the breadth of summer activities in the Great Alpine Valleys, the guide will be distributed through visitor information centres throughout victoria and available through our visitor information centres. If you have an event for the autumn edition please contact Kate Houlgate at the Alpine Shire Council on (03) 5755 0550 or email kateh@alpineshire.vic.gov.au
BRIGHT ROD RUN - THIS WEEKEND
It’s that time of year again, the annual Bright Rod Run! Over 1000 hot rods and classic vehicles will be driving in and around Bright over the weekend. Saturday afternoon from 1pm the cars cruise to Myrtleford and Mount Beauty on a Poker Run. There is also a smaller cruise to Harrietville. The more adventurous Rodders will be trying out their driving skills in the ‘Go to Whoa’ event. The Show and Shine will be on Sunday at Pioneer Park, incorporating the Monster Rotary Market and live music in the Marquee.
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PARKS VICTORIA UPDATE
Mount Buffalo National Park
Dingo Dell Cafe
The Dingo Dell Cafe will be open every day in October and on weekends up to the last day of the Bright Spring Festival – that is, Tuesday 1st November. After Melbourne Cup Day, the Cafe will be open each weekend until Christmas, between 10am and 4pm.
Lake Catani Campground
Lake Catani Campground will re-open on Friday 28th October, just in time for the Melbourne Cup Weekend. To make a booking you can do so by calling 13 1963 or jump online at www.parkstay.vic.gov.au
Seasonal Road Closures
Seasonal road closures will re-open on Thursday 27th October – in time for Melbourne Cup Weekend. This includes the Horn Road and Reservoir Road. The Horn Road has been receiving some much needed love and has received some gravel and grading in readiness for its reopening.
Walking Tracks
The walking tracks have been receiving some love and attention too since the melting of the winter snow. Many tracks are now cleared of winter debris, with most of the shorter plateau tracks now cleared. The Big Walk is also open and clear.
Alpine National Park
Seasonal Road Closures
Seasonal road closures will re-open on Thursday 27th October. People should be aware that a small number of vehicle tracks will remain closed due to flood and storm impacts. For the latest information on track closures, please visit www.parks.vic.gov.au
Walking Tracks
Walking track clearing has begun and is ramping up with a focus on the Mount Bogong and Mount Feathertop track networks. This time of year is a fantastic time for bush walking with mild temperatures and experiencing the Alps as it emerges from its winter dormancy.
Extra Staff Coming on Board
Four project fire fighters will be based at the Mount Beauty office for the 2011-2012 summer. One has already started with three more to start in early December. There will also be a range of other seasonal staff coming on board in the coming weeks to assist with other summer projects. So look out for all of our staff around the Alpine National Park!
Pest Plant Control Works
The Bogong High Plains hawkweed control program has started and most pest plant control projects are beginning the coming weeks. The current and predicted conditions suggest pest plant growth will be vigorous. Parks Victoria has received a significant amount of funding to tackle highly invasive species this season, including species such as willows, hawkweed, broom and blackberries.
Official opening of the Bogong Alpine Way visitor facilities, including the rebuilt Westons Hut and ranger guided walk - CANCELLED
Join us to celebrate the opening of the the Bogong Alpine Way visitor facilities including the rebuilt Westons Hut and
A Ranger Guided Walk on the Wallace-Cope Heritage Trail on Saturday 19th November 2011 CANCELLED
The ranger guided Wallace-Cope Heritage Trail will depart from the Cope Hut car park at 11:00am, concluding at the Wallace Hut trail head at 12:30pm.
Light lunches will be available for purchase from the Rotary Club of Mount Beauty from 12:30pm. Official ceremony at 1:30pm.
Car parking will not be available at Wallace or Cope Huts - only at Rocky Valley West. Free scheduled shuttle service to Wallace & Cope Hut available.
Please BYO water, hat, sunscreen, camera, good walking shoes & a jacket. RSVP is essential to reserve a spot on the shuttle service - by Friday 11th November, 2011. Call 13 19 63
>TOURISM VICTORIA NEWS
Click here to go to the Tourism Victoria Corporate site
TOURISM MINISTERS MEETING TAKES NATIONAL STRATEGY TO THE NEXT STAGE
Significant progress was made in advancing the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy at the Tourism Ministers Council meeting in Canberra last week.
"Today's meeting was very constructive with ministers reaching agreement on a number of key outcomes, pieces of work and stringent timelines that move us to the next stage of the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy. Ministers signed off on the first stage of the Strategy in which evidence has been gathered to drive policy change across all levels of government," Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson AM MP said.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the release of the National Online Tourism Strategy. This strategy is designed to enhance the online capability of the Australian tourism industry to promote and distribute their tourism product online.
"Advancing the tourism industry’s technological ability is a priority of the strategy," Minister Ferguson said.
“Australian tourism businesses have to keep up with leading-edge technology to maintain their competitiveness.”
Minister Assisting on Tourism, Nick Sherry, said one of the greatest challenges facing businesses is that although nine out of ten are connected to the internet, only about a third are using it effectively to their benefit.
"This is an area where governments, through this strategy, can really make a difference," said Senator Sherry.
"Tourism Research Australia data shows that more and more tourists are using the internet as a source of information and to make bookings. It is vital to growth in the sector that tourism businesses capitalise on the National Broadband Network.
"The NBN will make it possible for Australian companies to deliver more sophisticated techniques, marketing and content on their websites – to potential overseas and domestic customers."
A number of reports and policy actions were agreed by the federal, state and territory minsters to address the labour and skills, regulatory, investment and online capability issues facing the tourism sector.
Key outcomes included:
- the nomination of eight "hot spots" – one in each state and territory – to trial measures aimed at closing labour and skills gaps in the tourism industry;
- agreement to harmonise recognition of Responsible Service of Alcohol certificates;
- endorsement of the National Tourism Incident Communication Plan
- agreement to publicly release a number of key reports and fact sheets and research on investment barriers and climate change programs.
A full report is available at www.ret.gov.au and the communiqué of the Tourism Ministers Council Meeting is available at www.ret.gov.au.
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VTIC TOURISM & EVENTS INDUSTRY 2011 CHRISTMAS PARTY
30 November 2011, Melbourne
The VTIC Tourism and Events Industry 2011 Christmas party will be held on 30 November at Showtime Events, Shed 11, Dukes Walk, South Wharf.
Enjoy an evening of networking, entertainment, food and beverages. Register by downloading the registration form and faxing to 03 8662 5449 or email mmejia@vecci.org.au Registrations close 23 November 2011.
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