Mandurah, Western Australia’s largest regional city, has been named a finalist in the 9th annual international City Nation Place Awards alongside Fiji, Cape Town, Iceland, London, Switzerland, and others.
The only Australian city named in the category for Best Communication Strategy – Tourism, Mandurah is one of eleven finalists in recognition for its outstanding ‘BIG reasons to visit Mandurah this summer’ campaign in 2022/23.
The City Nation Place Awards celebrates excellence in destination marketing and place branding, acknowledging initiatives that promote destinations effectively and engage communities and travellers alike.
This is the latest addition to Mandurah’s impressive accolades which includes Australia’s Top Tourism Town awarded in September 2023, and consecutive State wins in 2022 and 2023 as Western Australia’s Top Tourism Town.
Visit Mandurah’s summer campaign, with its compelling narrative and innovative communication strategies, made a significant impact on showcasing Mandurah as a premier tourist destination drawing visitors from near and far and generated an economic boost for local businesses.
The campaign highlighted Mandurah’s unique attractions and experiences including its canals and waterways, natural bushland and wildlife, stunning beaches and bays, and vibrant food and drink scene.
The ‘BIG reasons to visit Mandarah this summer’ campaign reached over 15 million people, generated a 400 per cent surge in people walking into the Mandurah Visitor Centre, increased website traffic by 162 per cent, and importantly, boosted retail sales by over 210 per cent.
Visit Mandurah General Manager Anita Kane said the nomination stands as a testament to Visit Mandurah’s commitment to promoting the city as a vibrant and inviting destination.
“We are honoured to be recognised as a finalist in the City Nation Place Awards and I’m proud of our team’s dedication, creativity, and strategic thinking that has propelled Mandurah into the spotlight on the global stage,” Ms Kane said.
“This acknowledgment reflects not just the hard work and creativity of our team, but the incredible support we receive from our community. We are committed to continuing our mission of showcasing the best that Mandurah has to offer.”
The ‘BIG reasons to visit Mandarah this summer’ campaign was centred on the ‘Giants of Mandurah’ outdoor exhibition by renowned Danish artist Thomas Dambo. This Australian-first cultural tourism project showcased huge wooden sculptures hidden around Mandurah, creating a captivating interactive experience. Pre-launch, the Giants generated substantial interest, making them the perfect focal point to spotlight Mandurah’s broader attractions.
Situated less than an hour from Perth, Mandurah is set against a backdrop of magnificent beaches and an estuary twice the size of Sydney Harbour. Originally known by as Mandjoogoordap, Mandurah means ‘meeting place of the heart’. Go to visitmandurah.com.au for more information.
The winners of the City Nation Place Awards 2023 will be announced at the awards ceremony on the 9th November in London.
