A State Government grant will allow Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism to create an app to provide visitors with maps and up-to-date information on the region.

The tourism body will partner with local governments to create a Grampians and Wimmera Mallee Visitor Inspiration Passport, VIP, which will provide information about what to do, where to go, and what is open in the region.

The project will include online maps and curated itineraries that encourage people to visit all municipalities across the region.

A QR code web-based visitor inspiration tool, linked to the new app, will also be developed to promote local content.

The VIP app will also support the Wimmera Mallee’s Silo Art Trail to attract visitors from new markets to the region.

To be the first of its kind, the project will also include the creation of three totally off-grid multi-functional digital kiosks positioned across the Grampians region to support the $34m Grampians Peaks Trail investment and help to disperse visitors across all parts of the Grampians and Wimmera Mallee regions.

The kiosks will provide wi-fi hotspots for visitors to download the VIP app for up-to-date visitor servicing information, post on social media, and make wi-fi phone calls.

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman said these sustainable digital solutions were projected to help the region be more connected and encourage higher visitation to all corners of the region.

Mr Sleeman said to ensure the project captured all opportunities and feedback, consultation with stakeholders including visitor information centres, traditional owners, Parks Victoria, the community and visitors would occur over the next few months.

“We are incredibly grateful to be receiving the funding to allow us to upgrade our current visitor servicing and create a more streamlined way for visitors to access up-to-date information on the region,” he said.

“This will be heavily influential in encouraging greater visits and longer stays to more diverse areas in the region, and overall increase visitor spending.

“We believe these updates will help our local communities thrive, and we look forward to working with our local councils, businesses and communities across the Grampians and Wimmera Mallee to implement these exciting upgrades.” The projects came to fruition after application to the government’s $3 million Visitor Servicing Fund, where it was successful as a recipient of both A and B grant streams.

It was one of four regions in Victoria to receive funding for the stream B grant – $480,000.

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism will receive $50,000 from stream A to collaborate with local governments in the Grampians region to update the 2018 Visitor Servicing Review of the region with new visitor and stakeholder research to improve the design and offerings of visitor information centres.

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