Wyndham City Seeks Your Input on Exciting Visitor Economy Strategy
Wyndham City is inviting public feedback on its newly unveiled draft Visitor Economy Strategy, a comprehensive plan designed to foster a thriving visitor economy and facilitate post-COVID recovery through innovative tourism initiatives. The strategy focuses on promoting existing attractions and introducing novel ideas to entice more visitors and extend their stays in the region.
Under the guidance of Wyndham City Mayor, Councillor Susan McIntyre, the four-year strategy encompasses four key strategic directions that aim to drive growth and establish Wyndham as a premier destination in Melbourne’s western region.
McIntyre emphasized, “The common goal across the four key strategic pillars is to encourage more visitors to come to Wyndham and stay for longer through the development of new experiences and increased promotion of what Council and tourism operators are already doing. It also aims to improve transport options and leverage infrastructure to make visitation easier with a greater emphasis on our natural environment, which is exciting and in keeping with Victoria’s Visitor Economy Masterplan.”
Councillor Heather Marcus, holder of Wyndham City’s Destination Wyndham portfolio, added, “We take pride in Wyndham being a destination of choice. Interestingly, 83 percent of Wyndham’s 1.5 million visitors are day trippers, 50 percent of all visits result from visiting friends and family, and 14 percent of visitors stay overnight.”
The draft strategy seeks to deliver a vision for Wyndham’s Visitor Economy as the premier destination in Melbourne’s West. This vision includes offering quality tourism events, enriching nature and cultural experiences, and seamlessly connecting Wyndham’s precincts to enhance the overall visitor journey.
The strategy’s four strategic directions are outlined as follows:
1. **Grow Wyndham’s Tourism Events Portfolio**: This direction focuses on collaborating with tourism organizations and establishing sponsorship agreements to promote existing tourist attractions in Werribee and its vicinity. The goal is to diversify events, attracting a wider range of visitors who will choose to stay overnight and explore the region.
2. **Invest in Wyndham’s Nature-Based Assets and First Peoples’ Experiences**: Leveraging the natural attractions of Wyndham, such as the K Road Cliffs and bird watching, will be a key aspect of this direction. Additionally, the strategy aims to encourage First Peoples-led cultural tourism, aligning with Victoria’s Visitor Economy Masterplan.
3. **Improve Visitor Dispersal Across Werribee and Surrounds**: The third direction is all about making travel to attractions more convenient and promoting visits to multiple locations in the area. The strategy will explore various travel options for visitors and foster partnerships with tourism-related providers.
4. **Develop Wyndham’s Secondary Tourism Destinations**: This direction involves promoting tourism attractions outside the Werribee Park Precinct, including the introduction of new commercial offerings like bike and kayak rentals. It also seeks to bolster Wyndham’s reputation for food and wine, as well as its nighttime economy.
The public is encouraged to provide feedback on the draft strategy by November 27, 2023. Input can be submitted through the following link: [Visitor Economy Strategy Feedback].
The ambitious draft Visitor Economy Strategy sets a clear path for the future, to transform Wyndham into a must-visit destination, offering enriching experiences, and stimulating the local economy through tourism.
