The Australian Government is providing $500,000 in grant funding for a project in the Blue Mountains to establish a new touring route linking regions that share the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson, announced the funding for Blue Mountains Tourism Ltd's Greater Blue Mountains Drive under the Australian Tourism Development Program.
Mr Ferguson said the project will link the spectacular natural attractions within the World Heritage area via a themed tourist drive with complementary experiences from the Southern Highlands to the south and the Hunter Valley to the north
"The Blue Mountains region is one of the state's premier attractions and the experience will enable tourists to take in from the Upper Hunter Valley to Capital Country, Oberon, Lithgow and Hawkesbury regions," Mr Ferguson said.
"It will offer motorists complementary experiences along the way, encouraging tourists to leave the car and explore sights on foot or bike."
The ATDP funds will be used for marketing strategies, product and theme development, infrastructure, signage, investment attraction, and industry and community development.
"Tourists will be helped by new interpretative signage along the drive; a visitor map outlining the routes of the 18 discovery trails and a Greater Blue Mountains touring guide with details of distances, attractions," Mr Ferguson said.
"The Greater Blue Mountains Drive project is a good example of maximising local skills and knowledge to deliver a great tourism experience that delivers benefits for the local community and the national economy.
"The drive provides a network of touring possibilities that can be tailored to meet individual timeframes and interests, from two days to two weeks.
“Tourism is big business and plays an important role in the economy as well as providing employment opportunities around the country,” Mr Ferguson said.
Contact: Tracey Winters (Canberra) 0407 099 104
Robyn Foster (AusIndustry) 02 6213 6787