![NETWORKING CHANCE: Delegates from across Victoria impress the Taiwanese tourism industry at a sales mission event. Picture: Lydia Kippe NETWORKING CHANCE: Delegates from across Victoria impress the Taiwanese tourism industry at a sales mission event. Picture: Lydia Kippe](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/rebecca.riddle/5094b866-142f-4c31-bda2-47ff6da2f04f.JPG/r0_125_1334_908_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
More than a dozen tourism delegates from across Victoria have attended a three-day sales mission to Taiwan to promote the region’s best features.
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It was the first Australian relationship-building event of its kind in almost 20 years and those who attended are confident of its success.
Warrnambool’s Lady Bay Resort marketing manager Lydia Kippe presented at the event.
She believes the trip will boost already strong international tourism numbers.
“The Chinese market makes up approximately 70 per cent of our international market here at the Lady Bay,” she said. “I don’t want to put a dollar figure on it, but it’s a fair whack.
“In February, for example, the Chinese market made up 25 per cent of our monthly revenue thanks to Chinese New Year.”
Tourism dollars generate success not only for accommodation providers but for the region itself.
“It’s not just about Warrnambool’s spectacular location”, Ms Kippe said
“We also have unique products such as Flagstaff Hill and the maremma dog project. They all make up the experience that the international market is looking for.”
The visit to Taiwan coincides with the release of China Airlines direct flights from Melbourne to Taipei.
Guests at the event included some of China’s key travel agents, wholesalers and media representatives including China Airlines vice-president Kuo-Liang Tung.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase not only the Lady Bay Resort, but our region as a whole”, Ms Kippe said. “The Taiwanese agents were very receptive to our presentations and of course they loved the story of Oddball.”
Warrnambool City tourism services manager Peter Abbott agreed that tourism in the region had further potential.
“Oddball and Middle Island are creating huge interest for our city and it’s something we have to manage for the benefit of both Middle Island and tourism,” Mr Abbot said.
“We even recently hosted a Chinese television crew, who were very excited to meet our maremma pup.”
Mr Abbott plans to develop further partnerships at the Australian Tourism Exchange in May on the Gold Coast.