MEDIA RELEASE FROM CRAIG INGRAM MP - MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND EAST Issued: Tuesday 19 December 2006

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East Gippsland open for tourism: Ingram

The Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, will meet with Melbourne-based media this week to get the message out that the region is still open to tourists during the summer holiday period.

Mr Ingram said a number of local tourism operators had contacted him concerned at the amount of cancellations from people who believed the entire region was under threat from the fires.

“We need to get the message out there that the current fires are not directly affecting the majority of towns in our region.

“While bookings are quite solid in many of our popular summer getaways, there are reports of some cancellations and a decrease in forward bookings.

“I will lobby the State Government to ensure that funding is made available to actively promote the area after the serious fire threat has concluded.”
Mr Ingram said the Gippsland Tourism Response and Recovery Group has recently been convened by Gippsland Tourism and the Gippsland Local Government Tourism Managers Network, to work with local tourism groups during and after the fires.

“Gippsland is a very large area, and so is East Gippsland,” Mr Ingram said.

“People who are planning to holiday in towns such as Lakes Entrance, Marlo or Mallacoota should be made aware that the fires are up to 200km away from their destination.

“Visitors can easily contact the Victorian Bushfire Information Line or check the CFA / DSE websites for the most current information (such as road closures) prior to leaving their homes for their holidays,” Mr Ingram said.

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Further information on the Gippsland Tourism Response and Recovery Group is available from Chris Buckingham (convenor) on 0429 869 638.