b'The Great Eastern Mail JANUARY 13, 2023 03East Gippsland tourism bounces backACommerce and Council recently released visitor survey reportThe boost weve seen to by leading tourismthe visitor economy of East economics and researchGippsland is testament to body Tourism Researchcombined work of Council, Australia has revealed theDestination Gippsland, EGMi strongest tourism results forand our tourism industry, to East Gippsland in 14 years, ascreate and implement strong Australians make up for lostmarketing promotions and travel opportunities during thetools, such as the Visit East pandemic period. Gippsland website, as well as The surge in national andresources, and business and international visitors bringsevents support, Cr Reeves renewed hope of a strongsaid.recovery in the tourism sectorCouncils Economic and an economic boost acrossDevelopment Team works to East Gippsland.attract tourists at every level, The Australian Governmentfrom attracting major events tourism research groupsvia the Gippsland Regional September quarter 2022Events Strategy, providing report revealed results thatvisitor services through our it describes as very positiveaccredited Visitor Information for East Gippsland, withCentres, and hosting media the shires visitor economyand tourism agents, down to Fit right in: Sean Eccles and Steph Murray have turned the Metung Licensed Post Office into a thriving community-focused hub. surging to impressiveproviding industry training visitation and expenditureand development to help MORE THAN JUST A POST OFFICE numbers and outperformingstrengthen our destination the state overall. appeal. I congratulate them Travel was impacted byon being part of a highly the COVID-19 pandemicsuccessful effort.in 2020/21, with significantEast Gippsland is a FROM FRONT PAGE has earned them a reputation amongSanta Claus at local events includingrates of decline recordedspectacular destination T HE lifeblood of any functioningthe town as being genuine, humble,the Metung Primary School end-of-yeardue to travel restrictions,thanks to its natural beauty town is its post office. And inauthentic, and the epitome of reliablecelebration, and the annual Christmasimplemented from early 2020.and, moving forward, nature-Metung, this has never beenefficiency. Carols on Metungs Village Green. StephInternational visitor numbersbased tourism will be a key truerespecially since Sean Eccles andIn their three years since joiningalso recruited helpers in order to receivesuffered a steep decline. Thefocus. Were striving to attain Steph Murray took over the business inthe East Gippsland community, Stephletters to Santa, and then hand-wrote 68bounce back, however, hasEcotourism Australias globally November 2019 from David and Judithand Sean rapidly turned the localpersonalised letters of reply from Santasurpassed previous visitationrecognised ECO Destination Williams. post office into a thriving community- Claus to local children. and spend levels, withCertification, Cr Reeves said.We were living in Ballarat when wefocused hub that oozes compassion andBronwyn Cahill expressed hervisitation up a record 23.3% toThe number of visitors found the ad for the sale of the Metungconsideration for those who reside withinappreciation on the Metung Community2,726 million and expenditureweve seen coming to East Licensed Post Office. Having had someits jurisdiction. With R U OK? messagesNoticeboard Facebook group saying,up a massive 64.8% on lastGippsland to experience our experience in that type of business [bothadorning their attire and Beyond BlueThe letter was so special and supportiveyear to $638 million.unspoilt beauty, our local Seans parents and Seans brother owncollection boxes on the counter, thereof achievements and struggles my childEast Gippsland Shirehospitality, locally gown food, and run their own licensed post officesis no denying this young coupleshad faced this year and is an absoluteCouncil Mayor Cr Markart, culture and events is in Penshurst LPO 3289 and Sandhurstunwavering support of mental healthhighlight of his Christmas. I dont knowReeves praised thepleasing, but were confident East LPO 3550 and so they had familiarityinitiatives. how many of these letters she wrote butcollaborative work ofthat this is just the start of with the work], we thought it was theAdd to this, their outstandingit is amazing how much time she mustregional marketing body Eastbetter things to come for perfect opportunity to set ourselves up forefforts which enhanced the Christmasput in and all during one of the most busyGippsland Marketing Inc,tourism in our shire.whatever we wanted to do in the future. experience for locals. This included Stephcrazy times of year for the post office.regional tourism organisationTourism Research The exceptional customer service thattransforming into the town elf, spreadingYour efforts are greatly appreciated ElfDestination Gippsland,Australias next National this dynamic duo pride themselves onChristmas cheer alongside the CFAsSteph. Business and TourismVisitor Survey will be released Associations, Chambers ofin April 2023.Heading away? Free school holiday fun for kids at Zoos VictoriaAhabitat for the Giant TortoiseOpen Range Zoo. than 6,000 animals that live free visit to the zoo is a must do forat Melbourne Zoo. The newActing Minister for theat the four zoos, as well as Victorian familieshabitat is nearly double theEnvironment Gayle Tierneyimportant conservation work this school holidays, withsize with a new heated/filteredsaid, Were proud to supportoutside the zoo.new opportunities to learnpool and more topographythe Kids Go Free programWith Kyabram Fauna Park and enjoy the wildlife andvariation for better exercise so more families canin northern Victoria joining experiences Zoos Victoria hasand health. experience a day out atZoos Victoria last year, there to offer, including newbornZoos Victoria also recentlyVictorias world-class zoos andis more to get out and explore Asian elephants. welcomed three new Asianlearn about animals and builddifferent parts of our state The Andrews Laborelephant calves, female Aiyara,life-long memories together. are. There is also Healesville Government is making suremale Roi-Yim and anotherOur zoos are homeSanctuary where you can no child misses out on a visitfemale who was born on Newto magnificent animalsexperience Australian wildlife to the zoo with free entry toYears Day. The newest calfsfrom all over the globe andand Werribee Open Range Melbourne Zoo, Werribeename will be decided by theplay an important role inZoos safari, where you can Open Range Zoo, Healesvillepublic through online votingconservation. see roaming rhino, zebras and Sanctuary and Kyabramvia Zoos Victorias social mediaZoos Victoria has alreadygiraffes.Fauna Park. The Kids Go Freechannels. welcomed more than 1 millionZoos Victoria Acting CEO program operates on schoolNext year, the herd and itsvisitors this financial year,David Methven said, The holidays, weekends andnewest members will moveof that 161,440 kids gainedKids Go Free program means Victorian public holidays. to a new purpose-built 21free entry under the Kids Gofuture generations can be There is always somethinghectare habitat, built as part ofFree programembracinginspired by wildlife and wild new to see on a zoo visit,the Labor Governments $88opportunities to connect withplaces, and join Zoos Victorias including the new-lookmillion expansion of Werribeenature and learn about moremission to fight extinction.'