As regional Victoria enters the next phase in opening up from the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, region to region tourism advocacy has begun.
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From Thursday, regional Victorians don't have to have an excuse to leave home, and travel is accepted.
Grampians Tourism has reinvigorated its campaign to attract visitors from other areas of regional Victoria.
Northern Grampians Shire chief executive Liana Thompson said she understood residents within the shire could be anxious at this time.
"About 800 jobs have been lost in tourism across the region due to the coronavirus pandemic," she said.
"That has a huge flow-on impact on every part of our community.
"With that fact in mind, we have an opportunity to show our country hospitality and welcome people safely to our community and gorgeous environment."
Ms Thompson said now was the time to build the region's tourism potential for Victoria and all of Australia.
"The first step in opening to regional Victoria will give us a whole lot confidence and show us where every one of us living and working in the Northern Grampians needs to do as a community as the rest of the state unlocks," she said. "At the Council, we learnt a lot from the last time where we unlocked.
"I, along with so many community members, was really concerned last time when we were inundated with people from everywhere. A tiny minority of businesses didn't operate as well as they could have. The rules are really simple and we are here to help business owners through them."
Ms Thompson said leading up to the announcement this week Shire employees had engaged with more businesses and ensuring CovidSafe plans were in place, and they were correct.
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"Businesses will be in a far better place this time around to cope with visitors," she said. "This includes keeping their staff safe, keeping their community safe and all of us being hospitable to people who visit us. Country hospitality for me is ideal. You can wait to go because you know people are going to say 'g'day' to you down the street.
"You know you are able to experience a fantastic way of life. I know we have a lot of hospitality within us - just like I've had it shown to me since I've come here.
"I would like our community to tap into that and tap into how we would like to be treated in other people's communities."
Ms Thompson said the impact of tourism businesses that are brought back to life would be a boost for the region.
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Grampians Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman said the industry provided opportunities and supported younger employees.
"It's a well-known fact hospitality and tourism employ a lot of younger people," he said.
"The tourism industry keeps younger employees in regional communities and provides them with an opportunity to stay with family.
"The tourism industry also keeps families connected.
"We can look at families who travel together or visit here from another regional place in Victoria, the Grampians and our wider region is a great place to get together."
Mr Sleeman said $530 million dollars is put into the local economy from tourism and in the last calendar year the region experienced a 20 per cent growth.
"The visitor economy in 2019 shows us we received 2.5 million visitors into the region," he said.
"Tourism plays a really vital role in our region's economy. It represents 20% of employment in Northern Grampians Shire and 10% across the wider region."
"I think COVID-19 has amplified the importance of the tourism economy across our region. When people are stopped visiting, it has a great impact on everyone."
Member for Ripon Louise Staley said the Grampians was a world-class asset right on the region's doorstep.
"I think there will be people from other parts of country Victoria who, under the restrictions can travel to other regional areas, come and visit the Grampians region," she said.
"We have a lot to offer here. Of course, our major markets of Melbourne and international are closed so regional tourism is going to continue to be difficult for all.
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"We do have these natural advantages that will prove to be attractive to people."
Ms Staley said she hoped residents living in the region encouraged others from areas of regional Victoria to come and experience what was on offer.
"Out of the 48 regional local government areas that are in the same restrictions together, 38 of those haven't had a case for over 14 days," she said.
"Regional Victoria is right to re-open and welcome other regional Victorians."
Ms Staley said herself and other Liberal-Nationals had made calls for checkpoints coming from Melbourne to be upgraded and tighter.
On Wednesday, Victoria Police announced it would check more cars and issue a nearly $5000 fine to Melburnians who were caught trying to enter regional Victoria.
In order to protect regional communities who were moving towards more relaxed restrictions, a $4,957 fine was introduced for people who "fail to comply with the requirements of remaining in a restricted area".
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