Mandurah is the state’s Top Tourism Town, and the city’s top tourism organisation wants to make sure everyone knows about.
Mandurah and Peel Tourism Organisation’s (MAPTO) new road advertising billboards – which were installed before the Easter long weekend – are sure to help get the message across.
Two billboards were installed on the Kwinana Freeway – both north and south –immediately prior to the Mandjoogoordap Drive exits, and encourage drivers see why Mandurah was named best in the West.
They feature the most recognisable Mandurah local, a dolphin, and reads: “Smart creatures visit Mandurah. Take the next exit to WA’s Top Tourism Town 2017”.
MAPTO chief executive Karen Priest said the billboards were part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness, inspire and educate people to visit the region, stay longer and spend more.
“To be named WA’s Top Tourism Town for 2017 is a huge honour and reinforces the fact that Mandurah and the Peel region has come of age; offering award-winning waterfront dining, aquatic and nature-based adventures, world-class golf courses and plenty of places to shop,” Ms Priest said.
“Many people driving past the turn off on the freeway may not realise just how great we are, so the billboards are there to tell them that even the experts have voted us the best of the best.”
It would appear the overall campaign and marketing efforts by MAPTO and others is already having an impact, with the latest figures from Tourism Research Australia showing the number of day trips to the Peel region jumped from 2.32 million in 2016 to 2.65 million in 2017.
Ms Priest said while the results were encouraging, there was still room to grow.
“A strong tourism sector has flow-on effects for the whole community,” she said.
“It means more jobs and a healthier local economy, not just for the tourism and food and wine industry but for other services visitors use such as grocery stores, petrol stations, pharmacies and hairdressers.
“This increased demand fuels the need for improved infrastructure which makes the region vibrant and therefore more attractive for people to call it home.”