Major Tourism Gongs for the Gong
Wollongong’s recently launched Grand Pacific Drive was recently named winner of a NSW Tourism Award in its first year of operation, with the 140km long drive, which runs from the Royal National Park to Shoalhaven Heads and featuring the 665 metre long Sea Cliff Bridge at Stanwell Park, taking out the Tourism Product Marketing category.
Wollongong notched up more successes in the annual awards, when Tourism Wollongong’s Sales & Marketing and Special Projects Manager, Kate Dombkins, was named winner of the Young Achiever in Tourism Award and Jamberoo Action Park, just south of Wollongong, also picked up an encouragement award in the Significant Tourism Attraction category, giving the region one of its best-ever results.
Tourism Wollongong Chairman Jim Eddy said Grand Pacific Drive had generated an amazing amount of interest and publicity since in opened early in the year because it enabled Tourism Wollongong to start showcasing a stretch of coastline that had been overlooked as a tourist attraction.
“Locals have long regarded the route as one of the world’s great ocean drives, but getting this wonderful new bridge has provided the focal point we needed to start promoting the route and the region it serves to rest of Australia and the world.”
Mr Eddy said the Tourism Wollongong marketing team had begun promoting Grand Pacific Drive at trade and consumer shows throughout Australia and abroad, using a new website – www.grandpacificdrive.com.au – to enable travellers to plan and book a Wollongong holiday.
He said he was personally delighted that Kate had picked up the Young Achiever Award because her marketing skills and enthusiasm had added significantly to the new promotional push, adding, “Greg Binskin has developed a very strong team and is providing a high level of leadership at Tourism Wollongong, and I am very proud to be heading up the organisation at such an exciting time in our history”.
Further Information on Wollongong is available via www.tourismwollongong.com.au or ring toll-free 1800 240 737.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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