It has been another challenging week for our region as Premier Daniel Andrews announced significant changes to the way we live and work in Victoria to help reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
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Stage 4 restrictions are now in place across metropolitan Melbourne and Stage 3 restrictions now apply throughout regional Victoria. For the latest information on restrictions in Victoria, visit the DHHS website.
The next six weeks will be a very difficult time for everyone and it's a case of working within the mandated guidelines to benefit our region and the whole state.
Many businesses have been forced to pivot, and pivot again.
Some have been forced to make difficult decisions about their businesses, and their futures.
It is an incredibly challenging time.
To find out what support may be available for your business, please visit the Business Victoria website.
There is also a hotline - 13 22 15 seven days a week - to help answer your questions about what these restrictions might mean for your business.
The Business Victoria website has a free mentoring program, which pairs business owners with someone who can help them adapt their current business strategy to survive the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).
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We want you to know that we appreciate the work you are all doing to operate in the current conditions and, even though the state is in hiatus Grampians Tourism will still be working hard behind the scenes to keep the region front of mind for the future.
We will again be pausing all of our paid advertising and while our audience is unable to travel again, we will continue to ensure that the Grampians remains relevant.
All of our communications will reflect the new and evolving situation and will continue to inspire and encourage 'consideration' of our destination for when restrictions are eased again.
We will also be turning our focus to online sales and promoting our 'Made The Grampians Way' branding and encouraging our significant social following to buy online and support local businesses.
Local residents can also support local businesses and shop online via www.visitgrampians.com.au for local produce, beautiful handcrafts and award-winning wines.
Grampians Tourism secured additional funding to assist with industry stabilisation and recovery planning efforts as a result of COVID-19 crisis.
This funding has been allocated to provide free online tourism listings via the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) for businesses in the Grampians region and has been extended to 31 October 2020.
We are continually monitoring the situation and all latest information can be found on a dedicated COVID-19 resource page on the Grampians Tourism website including health and business support information for the visitor economy.
I know it is going to be even tougher the second time round, but please stay connected and don't hesitate to pick up the phone if you need support from any of the Grampians Tourism team.
Marc Sleeman is CEO of Grampians Tourism.
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