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Digital plan for tourism

Tristan WheelerManjimup-Bridgetown Times
Southern Forests and Valleys Tourism association held their digital launch on March 30.
Camera IconSouthern Forests and Valleys Tourism association held their digital launch on March 30. Credit: South Western Times

Southern Forests and Valleys Tourism Association has decided to go digital rather than cancel its planned launch.

The association will host a social-distancing launch instead, providing people the opportunity to chat with chief executive Wendy Duncan and chairman Paul Matenaar online.

Mrs Duncan said it was important to communicate with tourism operators and to set an example of alternative service delivery.

“There are just so many events being cancelled around the district, that we just really felt that we had to find a way,” she said.

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“Not only to carry on with our event, but I guess to set the example that you have to start thinking of alternative ways of delivering your service.”

Funded in part by the membership fees of businesses that sign up with the association, Mrs Duncan did concede they would have to look at their finances, as businesses begin to feel the pinch of the economic downturn associated with COVID-19.

“Our organisation will need to look very closely at our budget and our strategies over the next few months,” she said.

“We are a membership-based organisation, and the last thing tourism operators need in this period of time is to be paying more membership fees.

“We’re very fortunate, in as much as we receive grant funding from the South West Development Commission for marketing activities and our organisation is also generously supported by the Shires of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Nannup and Manjimup.”

The digital event will go live at 5.30pm on Monday.

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