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KIMBERLEY UNITES IN BID TO BECOME NATIONAL LANDSCAPE
The Kimberley region of north west Australia has been recognized as having the potential to be included in Australia’s National Landscapes program.
The Kimberley is the tenth landscape identified for inclusion in the program and Bruce Leaver, Chair of the National Landscapes Reference Committee, met with tourism industry representatives in Kununurra and Broome this week to explain the significance of the initiative.
Mr Leaver’s visit follows last Saturday’s WA Tourism Awards which honoured Australia’s north west tourism operators with 16 awards, including nine gold awards.
“The aim of the program is to identify the top 15 Australian landscapes that offer a world class nature based tourism experience,” Mr Leaver said. “The Kimberley is being considered for inclusion in the program not only for its magnificent landscape, but also because of the commitment to excellence that tourism operators in this region have displayed in delivering experiences that appeal to the global nature tourism market. Australia’s National Landscapes holds the key to the strategic development of tourism in Australia and the fact so many Kimberley stakeholders have attended these presentations shows not only your commitment to the Kimberley, but also your understanding of the importance of this program.”
Tourism operators and other stakeholders travelled from throughout the Kimberley to attend Mr Leaver’s presentations, which were hosted by Marilynne Paspaley AM, Chair of the Kimberley National Landscapes Steering Committee, at her Pinctada Hotels & Resorts properties in Broome and Kununurra.
In addressing today’s meeting at Pinctada Cable Beach, Broome, Ms Paspaley asked all stakeholders to take responsibility towards ensuring the Kimberley’s confirmation in Australia’s National Landscapes program.
“There is a long road to follow for the Kimberley to be confirmed as one of the 15 national landscapes that will be marketed to the world and it is important that we engage and pull together to make this happen,” Ms Paspaley said. “This is not about any individual person or business, it is about our region. Australia’s National Landscapes is a long term tourism strategy that will benefit all sectors of the Kimberley. The Kimberley is blessed with all the attributes to become a National Landscape and it is our responsibility to work hard, to form critical partnerships and to think strategically in order to confirm our place in the program.”
The Hon. Chris Ellison, Chairman of Australia’s North West Tourism, said Australia’s National Landscapes provides opportunities for the region that extend beyond tourism.
“This is a great opportunity to bring all stakeholders in the region together to focus on a strategy that will not only benefit our tourism industry, but also many communities within the Kimberley,” Mr Ellison said. “Australia’s North West Tourism is represented on the Kimberley National Landscapes Steering Committee and is fully supportive of the committee and its endeavours. While it is pleasing that the Kimberley is under consideration for inclusion in Australia’s National Landscapes, there is still a process of assessment before our inclusion is confirmed and it is important that all stakeholders in the region work together to achieve this end.”
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Glen Chidlow, Kimberley National Landscapes Steering Committee: 0429 936 660
Mary-Anne Dibbs, Pinctada Hotels & Resorts Media & Communications: 08 9193 8328
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