Everyone’s favourite royal couple checked into the Blue Mountains late last week.
At Echo Point, Their Royal Highnesses were met by a Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism (BMLOT) delegation including official escorts BMLOT chief executive officer Randall Walker and Scenic World joint managing director Anthea Hammon.
The Royal couple also met Aboriginal elders associated with the tourism industry, Aunty Sharyn Halls (Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association, The Gully and Ancestral Pathways Walk), Aunty Sharon Brown (Gundungurra Tribal Council, Muggadah Tours and Mulyang Dance Troup) and Uncle Chris Tobin (Darug, artists camp) as well as BMLOT chairman Daniel Myles, Blue Mountains Accommodation & Tourism Association president Eric Sward and Huong Nguyen, owner of one of the largest tourism businesses in the region, the Escarpment Group.
BMLOT chief executive officer Randall Walker said that The Duke was surprised to learn that Echo Point was the most visited natural location in regional Australia, visited by up to 3 million people a year.
Walker said, “To be able to raise awareness of the destination in such a high profile and positive way is a fabulous outcome for tourism industry operators and the Blue Mountains community.”
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said, “The Royal visit will also focus the world’s media on our beautiful tourist areas and showcase that we are open for business. With five hundred jobs lost and a one hundred million dollar decline in our economy since the fires this is a boost we really need.’’
