Registrations have opened for the 2022 Australian Regional Tourism (ART) Convention which will take place in Ballarat, Victoria, 10 to 12 October, after it was postponed as an in-person event due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Considered the most significant annual event for anyone in regional tourism, the ART Convention will provide opportunity to connect, share ideas, engage and discuss the opportunities and challenges being faced by the industry.

With the theme of ‘Regional Australia – Paving the way for a stronger Visitor Economy’, the event will highlight the value and importance of the work being delivered in the tourism sector and the growing number of operators in the region.

Australian Regional Tourism chair Coralie Bell said the 2022 Convention had been three years in the making and was excited to see it finally come to fruition.

“We cannot wait for the Convention to happen in-person this year. After all we have experienced these last couple of years, it’s time to come together in person and feel connected again,” Bell said.

The convention will also showcase Ballarat as a tourist and conference destination with a famil program announced soon.

“The City of Ballarat is an ideal location for a vibrant and inspiring convention, following on from rapid growth and offering amazing visitor experiences,” Bell said.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said the city was thrilled to be able to finally host the Australian Regional Tourism Convention.

“The City of Ballarat and our tourism partners are leaders in regional tourism and we relish the opportunity to show the great work being done in our region to inspire other tourism providers.” Mayor Moloney said.

In addition to the convention, Australian Regional Tourism (ART) will also host the Agritourism Conference in Ballarat, on 13 October, which will bring together the agricultural and tourism sectors during the one-off event.