After taking the digital asset reins from the Echuca Moama and District Tourism Association following a members’ vote last Tuesday, September 3, Committee for Echuca Moama hosted its first information session.
The Tuesday, September 10, meeting was a chance for previous EMT members, current C4EM members and interested stakeholders to check in and understand the future direction of tourism.
Inheriting the social media accounts, intellectual property, website, and any remaining cash, C4EM is looking to put a working group or subcommittee together to keep the tourism ball rolling.
C4EM was selected by the former EMT board as the custodian of the assets, due to its similar structure, being not-for-profit and membership based.
“C4EM was certainly sad to see the demise of the Echuca Moama and District Tourism Association in recent months,” treasurer Tim Ford said
“We want to extend our thanks to the members, board and employees of EMT for their efforts in driving tourism in the region.
“C4EM offered to do two different things, the first is to provide a similar structured, not-for-profit incorporated association to be custodians of the assets held by EMT.
“The second was ... to use the existing governance structure that C4EM is built on to develop a working group to allow key stakeholders to develop and define a way forward through collaboration and cooperation to best support the development of tourism in the area.”
At this stage, the two organisations are in the process of transferring the assets, handing over logins and sharing of intellectual property including photos and videos.
The purpose of the meeting was to bring interested parties together and propose the tourism working group. Murray River and Campaspe Shire councils also shared updates about their current tourism activities.
These include a combined spring campaign and radio and digital advertising, the Campaspe VTIC Quality Tourism Business Program and the official Echuca Moama visitor guide.
C4EM chair Cath Lees was pleased with the turnout, and is confident the organisation can support a platform for tourism development.
“I think the meeting showed that tourism operators are aware of the importance of having a body representing and promoting tourism in Echuca Moama,” she said.
“C4EM was established to support and advocate for the growth and development of the Echuca Moama region.
“With Echuca Moama District Tourism ceasing, we are perfectly situated to provide a forum for our tourism operators to come together and develop a shared approach to tourism in our region, working collaboratively with our councils and other key stakeholders.”
The organisation is also set to hold another meeting next week.