- Published:
- Wednesday 26 August 2015 at 10:00 am
A coveted spot at the Australian Open Junior Championships will be up for grabs when Traralgon hosts the world’s top junior stars at the 2016 AGL Loy Yang Traralgon Tennis International.
Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events John Eren today inspected the Traralgon Tennis Centre – the tournament’s home for 22 years. The Andrews Labor Government is contributing $5000 to secure the Grade 1 ITF Tour Event meeting in Gippsland.
The annual tournament is a renowned breeding ground for some of the biggest names in world tennis, including Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Marion Bartoli and Eugenie Bouchard. The International attracts up to 200 players from around the world, and offers qualification for the Grand Slam event.
Events like these help showcase Gippsland’s tourism treasures to visiting athletes, officials and supporters from interstate and beyond. They keep our businesses busy, our hotels and shopping centres full and our economy healthy – and that means jobs and growth for the region.
Tourism is Victoria’s second largest export, exceeded only by education. It generates 206,000 jobs and delivers more than $19 billion to the economy annually. Victoria’s impressive list of events are a key component of the state’s $10.9 billion regional economy, keeping visitor rates healthy and creating jobs for regional Victorians.
The 2016 AGL Loy Yang Traralgon Tennis International runs from January 14 to 21.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport John Eren
“For more than two decades, the AGL Loy Yang Traralgon Tennis International has provided a launch pad for some of the biggest stars in world tennis.”
“This is Traralgon’s chance to showcase its strengths to visitors from all over the world, keeping businesses busy and the economy strong.”
“We’re bringing the best of world tennis here to Traralgon, and ensuring this key tournament on the international circuit remains a flagship date on Gippsland’s calendar of events.”