Peel waterways tour offered to key tour operators as part of tourism pitch

MORE than 25 key inbound tour operators enjoyed a calm water dolphin cruise of the canals and waterways of Mandurah.

The group, visiting WA to take part in Extraordinary Tourism Exchange were treated to a Mandurah Cruises experience to highlight the Peel waterways and inlet.

Tourism Western Australia and the Australian Tourism Export Council, the peak industry body representing Australia’s $33.4 billion tourism export sector, made the visit possible.

Mandurah Cruises marketing manager Melissa Jones said it was a very significant group to host in the region.

“Not only were there representatives from Tourism Australia but also some of the biggest wholesalers and inbound tour operators in Australia cruised with us,’’ she said.

“It’s so much easier to promote a product when you have experienced it rather than trying to sell from a brochure or website.

“Our ATEC membership enables us to access and host more groups of this calibre build relationships and grow the business.”

Ms Jones said ATEC members included inbound tour operators and online distributors who connected Australian tourism products with vital distribution channels in key overseas markets.

One of the agents on the cruise was Maye Seow of Sights-n-Venture Tours who said she was so impressed with what she saw that she would bring a group of 70 Singaporean tourism students to Mandurau next month.