Latrobe City steps into the spotlight this August as it hosts the Victorian Tourism Conference, bringing together the people who shape how visitors experience regional Victoria. For three days, Traralgon and Morwell become the centre of the state's visitor economy conversation.
The Victorian Tourism Conference is organised by the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) and is the state's dedicated capability-building event for the visitor economy. Held annually, it brings local government teams, visitor information centre staff, tourism operators, destination leaders and industry decision-makers under one roof to learn, connect and think differently about visitor experiences.
Delegates choose from three tailored streams across the program. Stream 1 focuses on visitor servicing and on-the-ground experience roles, Stream 2 supports industry growth and economic development teams, and Stream 3 offers a Leaders Symposium for CEOs, directors, councillors and board chairs. Day one opens with optional half-day study tours and a welcome function, while day two delivers a full conference program culminating in the prestigious Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards Ceremony at the Morwell Convention and Reception Centre, complete with the Top Tour Guide Award. A shuttle bus connects Traralgon and Morwell for the evening event.
Hosting this conference places Latrobe City firmly on the map as a destination capable of welcoming a major state-level industry event. It gives local businesses, councils and visitor economy workers direct access to professional development and peer networks that are usually centred in metropolitan Victoria, and it showcases Gippsland's venues, experiences and hospitality to decision-makers from across the state.
The conference runs from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 August 2026, with sessions based primarily at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre in Traralgon and the awards evening at the Morwell Convention and Reception Centre. Tickets are available for full conference attendance or Wednesday-only attendance, with VTIC member pricing from $660. Register and find the full program at the link above.
Eden of the East