Another successful year for the Gippsland visitor economy
Media Alert: November 18, 2015.
Gippsland’s visitor economy continues to grow as the region attracted an additional 100,000 visitors in the
2014/15 year. This result was announced by Destination Gippsland at its Annual General Meeting held in
Sale on November 13, 2015.
The organisation’s leadership remains strong with Steven Hibbard reappointed the Chairman of Destination
Gippsland. Mr Hibbard has been a Director of Destination Gippsland since its inception in 2008 and has just
completed his first year as Chairman. He is a former Chief Executive of Lonely Planet and has been a NonExecutive Director for Parks Victoria.
Sue Smethurst was appointed as a new Board Director at the AGM. Sue grew up in Gippsland and has had
an outstanding career in the national media. She is a Senior Journalist with the Australian Women’s Weekly,
a social commentator on the Today television show and a former Editor of New Idea magazine. She is a
current Board Member of Eye and Ear Hospital in Melb ourne, the Australian Advertising Standards Bureau
and a former Chairman of Open Houses Charity. She has been a successful business entrepreneur and
continues to have family connections and property in Lakes Entrance.
The Destination Gippsland Board for 2015/16 consists of Steven Hibbard (Chairman), Richard Longmore
(Finance Committee Chairman), Caillin Flint (Industry Development Committee Chairman), Trent
Fairweather (Marketing Committee Chairman), Paul Ashton, Cameron Johns and Sue Smethurst. Observers
to the Board are Tim Tamlin (South Gippsland Shire Council), Dorana Wirne (Tourism Victoria) and Andrew
Marshall (Parks Victoria).
The Annual Report 2014-15 was released at the AGM. The report highlighted positive news for the region.
“We have enjoyed a number of recent successes and it is gratifying that visitor numbers in Gippsland are up
2.1% or 100,000 for the past 12 months. Destination Gippsland currently has several innovative marketing
and industry development initiatives underway. We are inspired by the shared enthusiasm of businesses,
towns and local governments for tourism in Gippsland that we witness almost daily across our beautiful
region,” said Mr Hibbard. He also praised the CEO, Terry Robinson and his team of four who “continuously
impress with their ability to achieve so much with so little”.
The Annual Report 2014-15 can be viewed on the new Destination Gippsland website
www.destinationgippsland.com.au
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Ends –
Media enquiries
Terry Robinson, CEO Destination Gippsland
Mobile: 0428 595 634 Email: trobinson@destinationgippsland.com.au
Tourism in Gippsland is everyone’s business. It generates $2.8 billion in total economic benefits, supports over 3,000 small
businesses and employs 15,000 people across Gippsland.
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