Profile: Haven Waters Motel's Jo Payne checks out some of the attractive images of the local area on the new website at www.visitcamdenhaven.com.au
THE Camden Haven has a new internet presence that local tourism operators hope will raise the area’s profile and inspire more people to visit and appreciate its natural beauty.
Located at www.visitcamdenhaven.com.au, the new website has been financed by the Camden Haven Tourism Marketing Co-operative and the Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce.
The tourism marketing co-operative, which is a part of the chamber of commerce, organised the creation of the website, which it hopes will increase the number of tourists visiting the area without disrupting its “village feel” and natural attractions.
Motel operator and tourism marketing co-op organiser Ron Payne said the group was not aiming to bring in huge numbers of additional visitors, just to “increase yields” from visitors and lift visitor numbers during what currently are quiet periods.
The website was designed by local members of the tourism marketing co-op, of which there are now 32, and paid for by them, with dollar-for-dollar matching funding from the chamber.
The aim is to raise the area’s profile and direct potential new visitors to accommodation providers and other businesses.
The website is intended to link in with efforts to raise the profile of the Camden Haven with Destinations NSW and advertising being directed to the New England, Newcastle and Hunter communities - the largest sources of visitors.
The chamber is also running a Google AdWords campaign to raise visits to the website.
Among the site’s many attractive images of the Camden Haven are five donated by local photographer Matt Cramer, Mr Payne said.
Work is continuing on the site, however he said it is intended to always be “a work in progress” and will be continually updated to publicise the area’s big events such as the Slice of Haven and Kendall National Violin Competition. It is also intended to be as interactive as possible, with feedback welcome.