1st May 2019
Region’s wine tourism project kicking goals!
With all funding now secured work is well underway on the cross-border wine tourism project announced mid-2018. After six months on the ground the $350,000 Limestone Coast Mixed Dozen Interactive Wine Trails project has completed over 50% of the project’s actions! Steering Committee Chair, Pete Bissell said “It is a fantastic outcome and a great demonstration of the wide range of support for the project.”
He continued, “The project aims to increase awareness around the wine tourism offering across the region – which spans from the Mount Benson Wine Region in South Australia to the Henty Wine region in Victoria and six other wine regions in between.” A major output for the project is a web-based itinerary planner which will highlight the wine tourism attractions across this region, enticing visitors to plan a holiday here and ultimately stay longer, enjoying all that the region has to offer.
Project Manager Toni Duka has recently been in the field meeting with cellar doors about wine tourism in the area, including Jenni Ling from Karatta Wines, Robe who said “It has been good to chat with Toni about what experiences are on offer, any future plans for new wine tourism experiences and what local businesses would like to see in the itinerary planner”. Toni has also been meeting with key people in the Henty wine region, including Andrew Lacey, President of the Henty Wine Region who commented that “the group are really enthusiastic about building relationships and increasing tourism in our regions, the partnership makes sense as there is so much in common and such a great array of attractions on offer between us.”
Toni further explains “One of the key focus areas is leveraging international visitation from the Great Ocean Road and other entry ways into the region and enticing them to travel a little further and experience what this part of Australia has to offer. It is a really exciting time, everyone has been very positive about the opportunity to collaborate and promote the fantastic wine tourism products we have.”
With over 150 wine tourism experiences mapped out so far there is certainly a lot to see. The project also hopes to assist businesses, wherever possible, in building the offering in the region and the number of experiences we have, Toni says “Wine Tourism is evolving and while Cellar Door tastings are fantastic and central to wine tourism, visitors are also looking for that something extra to include in their holiday plans – something they can go home and tell their family and friends about.”
The project team have partnered with the University of South Australia to undertake regional research asking visitors about their holiday experience, what the region has to offer and if there are other things they’d like to see here. Limestone Coast Tourism Industry Development Manager, Biddie Shearing said ”It will be really great to have some research that is quite specific to our region – telling us exactly what visitors here have valued about their visit and to also suggest where there might be further opportunities, it is certainly an exciting time for wine tourism in the area.”
If you would like to know more about the project please contact Project Manager, Toni Duka via mobile 0417 083 626 or email projectmanager@limestonecoastwinetrails.com.au.
The Limestone Coast Mixed Dozen Interactive Wine Trails is a collaborative project with funding from the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package, Primary Industries and Regions SA, Local Government and Industry.