TOURISM operators from around the region had their chance to share their thoughts on the sector’s future with the nation’s tourism minister, Dan Tehan, this week.

Grampians Tourism organised the luncheon for tourism operators and accommodation providers on Tuesday, where they were given the chance to share their experiences and thoughts on what was needed to help the sector bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism has been one of the hardest hit industries through the closure of international borders and lockdowns over the past year and Mr Tehan said the consensus was operators wanted to see more done to rebuild traveller confidence.

“It was a really good meeting … to discuss the future of tourism in the region and how important tourism is to jobs locally,” he said.

“For me as tourism minister, hearing about what’s happening on the ground is so, so important.

“To hear from all the local operators about what they’re hearing and seeing and getting their advice, that helps me do my job better.

“What we have to be doing at the moment is capitalising on domestic tourism and make sure we’re encouraging people from all around Australia to come to this area.

“We need people to have confidence to travel again, so what we need is border shutdowns and economy lockdowns all to be things of the past.

“They should be last resorts.