MEDIA RELEASE 22nd February 2006
NEW APPROACH TO CULTURAL TOURISM IN NORTH WEST The potential for the arts and tourism sectors to work together to create experiences that attract new visitors to the region will be the basis of a public seminar in Penguin in March. The seminar will be presented by Cairns-based cultural tourism consultant Nat Trimarchi as part of the Cradle Coast Authority’s cultural tourism initiative. Trimarchi, who spent a year in the United States researching cultural tourism development, will outline innovative approaches to tapping into the growing number of special interest tourists seeking unique experiences. “These are people who rank the arts, heritage and cultural activities amongst the top five reasons for traveling and who are willing to veer off the main tourist routes to connect with real-life experiences in regional areas,” Cradle Coast arts@work Project Officer, Nicki Fletcher said. Ms Fletcher said cultural tourists were the fastest growing tourism market in the world and the United States had been quick to refocus on this profitable segment of travellers. “What Nat Trimarchi brought back to Australia is an approach to tourism development that uses the arts as a resource to help create cultural experiences that are a real expression of local people, communities and places. “This is as much about farming and food production, local heritage and nature as it is about the arts. It’s about bundling up all the natural ingredients in the Cradle Coast and developing new tourism products that are a real reflection of the region.” “Offering visitors an ‘authentic’ holiday experience that helps them feel they have really ‘got in touch’ with the region and its people, not just major attractions, can help reverse our recent tourism downturn”. Ms Fletcher said the workshop, funded by the Australia Council, was a must for tourism planners and operators, cultural workers, artists, local councillors and community development officers. It will be held in Penguin on Monday 20th March. People interested in attending should contact Ms Fletcher at the Cradle Coast Authority on 6431 6285.
Media contact Ms Nicki Fletcher
arts@work Project Officer
6431 6285