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Stakeholders call for recovery of Victorian economy to be driven by events

Stakeholders call for recovery of Victorian economy to be driven by events
July 6, 2021

In the wake of yesterday’s cancellation of the 2021 Australian Grand Prix, lobby group Save Victorian Events has suggested that community-based events can help drive the post-Coronavirus recovery of the Victorian economy.

In a statement, highlighting that Victoria has lost over 100,000 events over the last year, which it says has “had a huge impact on the event industry, but also on our communities and our state” Save Victorian Events spokesperson, Simon Thewlis advised “we are saddened by the loss of every event - whether it is a conference for a not-for-profit group, a product launch, a community festival, or the Grand Prix.

“They are all important. They all contribute to our communities, and to what makes Victoria a great place … and, they all provide much needed income for event industry people and businesses.

Pointing out that “in economic terms the 'major events' make up just 5% of the $12 billion plus event industry in Victoria”, Thewlis says thought needs to given to “the other 95% of events”, adding “we need to be putting the time and effort into the many events that can be happening now and that provide the greatest overall benefit to communities and to the state.”

Save Victorian Events have formulated the role events can play in driving the post-Coronavirus recovery of the Victorian economy, highlighting that events can help:

  • Bring communities back together again and help people reconnect and be supported.
  • Organisations re-engage with their teams and work through the biggest changes they have faced in their histories.
  • Whole industries adapt to this new environment and to innovate so they can benefit from it.
  • Rebuild the confidence in our state and rebuild its profile.

Thewlis added “this is what events are great at. This is what events are about.

“But the answer at this time isn't a few very large events. The answer is a lot of more modest sized events to rebuild - community by community, business by business, and sector by sector … (and these) events that can be happening now.

“It is about using events to rebuild Victoria from the ground up and should be the basis of Victoria's event led recovery.

“There are currently many unnecessary barriers to holding events in Victoria, so many events that could be safely happening today just aren't happening.

“Most events are limited to just 300 people (at one person per 4 square metres) with no roadmap for higher capacities - yet AFL games can happen with 25,000 people.”

Save Victorian Events is suggesting the creation of a new standalone agency - Events Victoria - with, as Thewlis adds, “people with real event industry experience and knowledge: to have a real vision for the role of events in Victoria's recovery, to provide real practical and financial support to the Event Industry, and to actively work to get many events happening again.

“This requires taking a much more modern approach than what worked in the 1990s.

“Events are central to Victoria's identity and brand. Events are a key part of what makes living in Victoria great. Events make a huge contribution to our communities and our state.

“So it makes sense that events should be central to Victoria's strategy for recovery and for our return to prosperity.”

Related Articles

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5th July 2021 - Suncorp Stadium operating at full capacity while Brisbane’s entertainment venues stay closed

23rd June 2021 - Business event leaders gain insights to inform future strategies

27th May 2021 - Victoria Government announces seven-day lockdown

21st May 2021 - Save Victorian Events founder slams Victorian Government’s lack of support for business event sector

12th May 2021 - Grants now available to offset Melbourne business events

30th April 2021 - New wave of global innovation supports Victoria’s sports and major events

19th April 2021 - Business Events Council of Australia welcomes Tourism Australia’s continued support

12th April 2021 - Melbourne Convention Bureau announces available funding to offset business events costs

9th April 2021 - Tourism Conference to explore reigniting Victoria’s visitor economy

2nd April 2021 - Save Victorian Events highlight Bluesfest cancellation as confirmation of need for Governments to back event cancellation insurance

30th March 2021 - Save Victorian Events calls for Industry Taskforce

23rd March 2021 - Business Events Australia launches industry toolkit to support event recovery

19th March 2021 - Event industry suppliers circle Victorian Parliament in protest at lack of state government support

8th March 2021 - Australian Regional Events Alliance looks to support events industry

17th February 2021 - VTIC fear loss of jobs in Victorian tourism and events without further support

11th February 2021 - Tourism Australia launches new campaign to boost business events across Australia

27th January 2021 - Researchers suggest global event industry can benefit from COVID rapid lateral flow tests

18th January 2021 - Visit Victoria partners with Mushroom Group to launch ‘2021 Sounds Better Together’ concert series

23rd October 2020 - Survey shows over 400 Australian Live Music Businesses face imminent closure


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