Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Victoria’s Goldfields launch wellness survey as part of World Heritage Bid

Victoria’s Goldfields launch wellness survey as part of World Heritage Bid
July 28, 2021

In a first for Australian heritage tourism management, the Central Victoria Goldfields region has launched a survey to gauge the wellness of its residents in a bid to have the best of its gold-rush era heritage sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Residents in 13 local government areas in the Central Victoria Goldfields region have been taking an online survey to gauge their happiness, quality of life and well-being.

Deployment of the survey is a partnership between the World Heritage bid’s 13 local government authorities and Planet Happiness, with support from the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), Bendigo Heritage Attractions and the Victorian Goldfields Tourism Executive.

The move is part of an initiative to ask local residents about their quality of life and how tourism might be developed to strengthen community and destination well-being.  

The survey questionnaire was created to measure the well-being of host communities at World Heritage sites around the world, the vast majority of which attract a lot of tourists.

Around 300 people have completed the survey since it was launched on the International Day of Happiness on 20th March. The aim is to have at least 200 surveys from residents in each of the 13 participating areas.

So far respondents have expressed opinions on issues such as levels of tourism growth, access to local shops in busy tourism periods, the desire for slow change in communities, and the need to respect peace, nature and facilitate heritage conservation.

Laura Musikanski, a co-creator of the Goldfields’ Planet Happiness online survey notes “in the initial responses, we see a desire for people to be active outdoors and contribute to restoration and conservation of the natural and heritage features of their neighbourhoods.”

Chris Meddows-Taylor, Chair of the Victorian Goldfields Tourism Executive (above), added “we are hearing, very clearly, that locals want to make sure tourism is managed well and that it works to benefit communities. These early results are already helping shape our World Heritage bid’s tourism investment priorities.”  

The 10-15-minute survey is online and available to adults in Ararat, Ballarat, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Hepburn, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Moorabool, Mount Alexander, Northern Grampians, and Pyrenees local government areas.

Everyone who responds to the survey in July and August will be entered into a draw to win $100 tickets to Bendigo Heritage Attractions and one full annual membership of the National Trust.

Residents in the 13 local government areas can take the survey and find out more about the World Heritage bid’s Sustainable Tourism projects here.

Planet Happiness is a non-profit grass-roots big data project of the Happiness Alliance to introduce happiness and well-being science, policy and practice to local communities, governments at all levels and businesses. Its target audiences and collaborators are individuals, local communities, businesses and governments connected to the travel and tourism industry. Dr Paul Rogers is the Co-founder and Director of Planet Happiness. He has over 20 years’ experience as a tourism advisor to national and local governments and has worked in more than a dozen countries in Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information go to www.ourheritageourhappiness.org/

Image top: Sovereign Hill musicians; Image centre Map of Goldfields proposed World Heritage area; Image above: Chris Meddows-Taylor

 

Related Articles

6th December 2020 - Goldfields town sees reopening of Drive-In theatre

3rd July 2020 - Funding to assist development of Sustainable Tourism Toolkit for Central Victorian Goldfields

29th November 2020 - Sovereign Hill Museums Association celebrates 50th anniversary with launch of 20-year staged Master Plan

10th June 2020 - Victoria Tourism Industry Council welcomes Sovereign Hill’s reopening announcement

20th April 2019 - Federal Government commits to funding Sovereign Hill redevelopment

27th March 2019 - Sovereign Hill launches new sound and light show

15th March 2019 - Sovereign Hill’s Gold Museum celebrates 40th Anniversary with eclectic exhibition

23rd July 2021 - World Heritage Committee places Australian Government ‘on probation’ as custodians of the Reef

16th June 2021 - Flinders Ranges virtual tour to support bid for World Heritage status

29th April 2021 - Two Culture and Heritage Tourism bodies agree to global alliance

23rd December 2020 - Blue Mountains region reflects on 20th Anniversary of being granted World Heritage status by United Nations

27th July 2020 - Pilbara cultural heritage site saved by rock art discovery

9th June 2020 - Heritage Landmark to be restored in Mornington Peninsula

3rd May 2020 - National Heritage areas receive new conservation funding

9th April 2020 - Heritage project delivers light installations across Broken Hill


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Goplay Commercial Playground Equipment

Goplay designs and manufactures specialised playground equipment for indoor play centres, hotels, food chains, clubs and resorts. If our years of experience and dedication have taught us one thing,…

read more

Play

 
 
 

Spill Station Australia

Compliant chemical storage and decanting solutions. Includes spill kits, spill containment pallets, chemical decanting decks and safety shower and eyewash equipment. See our full range of solutions

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Security / Venues

 
 

AIS Water

AIS Water, the trading name of Australian Innovative Systems, is a multi-award winning, Australian owned leader in the design, production and supply of commercial and residential chlorine generators…

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Technology

 
 

State Wide Pool Services

Known as Hydrilla since September 2020 - see www.ausleisure.com.au/suppliers/hydrilla-pty-ltd

read more

Aquatics

 
 

SWIMPLEX AQUATICS

Swimplex Aquatics are a world-class company dedicated to the commercial pool, waterslide industry. We are Australian market leaders servicing all states Australia wide. Swimplex provide a full…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Design / Play / Waterparks

 
 

LIFE FLOOR (Aus & NZ)

Our team believes floors should be beautiful, comfortable, and engineered for safety, even when wet. Life Floor tiles meet six unique performance based standards: slip-resistance, impact absorption,…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Recreation / Safety / Surfaces

 
 

Fluidra Commercial

  Fluidra Commercial Australia develops innovative, highly technical and sustainable solutions designed to create unique aquatic facilities for the 'Commercial Pool' category. Public…

read more

Aquatics / Environment / Sport / Technology / Waterparks

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business