The Snowy Mountains could receive a massive boost to tourism after the Australian Alps were named as an iconic Australian landscape that will be promoted overseas.
The eagerly awaited news was announced at the Australian Tourism Exchange in Perth on Sunday, an international trade show which pitches Australia to international tourism operators and agents.
The move to promote new areas of Australia to overseas markets was prompted by the need to show that the country is more than the rock, the reef and the harbour and has been widely welcomed.
Chairman of Tourism Snowy Mountains, Gary Grant, said: "This is all very exciting. It is a great opportunity and its now up to us to make the most of it."
However, Mr Grant said that this was only the beginning and that there was a lot of work to do.
This sentiment was echoed by TSM executive, Jo Hearne, who was at the trade show when the announcement was made and talked to a number of international operators. Ms Hearne said that many of them didn't know where the Snowy Mountains were or had never realised that Australia had snow.
If they had heard of anywhere in the Alps, it was likely to be Mount Buller, Ms Hearne said.
Mr Grant said that the Victorians and Mount Buller in particular had done a good job in raising their profile. He urged all operators and businesses "this side of the mountains" to get involved in this new initiative and as a first step find out more about the National Landscapes Program, at a session with the Steering Committee, next Thursday, June 26, 9-11am, Quality Resort Horizons, Kosciuszko Road, Jindabyne.
Contact Caroline Fox at tsm@snowymountains.com.au or call 6450 1718 for further information.
Where else was named
The Australian Alps region was announced as being recognised as a national landscape along with Kakadu, Australia's Red Centre, the Great Ocean Road, the Flinders Ranges, Australia's Green Cauldron (Mount Warning/Tweed region), Australia's Coastal Wilderness ()SE Gippsland/Merimbula region) and the Greater Blue Mountains.