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The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has congratulated tourism businesses in Armidale, NSW for achieving one of the highest satisfaction ratings from visitors compared with other selected destinations across Australia
The Visitor Profile and Satisfaction Report from Tourism Research Australia put Armidale in the top ten (ninth) out of 62 destinations across Australia for visitor satisfaction. In a survey conducted in July and August 2009, 57 per cent of visitors to Armidale said they were very satisfied with their visit
Tourism Research Australia is presenting the survey results on behalf of Minister Ferguson to the Armidale Dumaresq Council today.
The research stated visitors were particularly impressed by the friendly, helpful and hospitable staff and friendly locals. They were happy with Armidale's tourism information services, shopping, food and wine, hotels and motels, roads and tours.
Minister Ferguson said, "For many regional communities such as Armidale, tourism is vital to the local economy. For tourism to succeed it needs not only good products and customer service but good local facilities. Last year the Australian Government provided almost $500,000 directly to Armidale Dumaresq Council for local community infrastructure including public facilities for tourists.
"Australians need to be reminded of the beauty of an Australian holiday. Tourism Australia and the Australian Government's domestic marketing "No Leave No Life" campaign encourages Australians to use their 123 million days of accumulated annual leave to take a short break. For Armidale that could mean a walk in the nearby Oxley Wild Rivers or Cathedral Rocks National Park, visiting a café or winery, perusing the local shops and spending some time with family and friends," he said.
"Tourism is dominated by small businesses- that is why, as part of the economic stimulus, the Australian Government invested more than $500 million in small business incentives and support to help the 93 per cent of tourism businesses in this category.
The Visitor Profile and Satisfaction (VPS) Program was completed as part of the Destination Visitor Survey Program (DVS) run by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Since 2006 about 70 VPS projects have been completed in Australian regional tourist destinations.
The Visitor Profile and Satisfaction Report can be obtained at http://www.ret.gov.au/tourism/tra/regional/destinations/Pages/default.aspx
Media contacts: Bindi Gove, 0406 644 913
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