The 54th Rip Curl Pro was another major event that took place this month. It is the longest-running professional surfing contest in the world, and the Andrews government has renewed its support for the event through to 2017.
The event sees surfers, locals and tourists flock to Bells Beach and surrounding areas. The Rip Curl Pro is very important for local tourism, with millions of people across almost 200 countries tuning in to watch the event online and on TV. These sorts of events promote Victoria as a tourist destination for interstate and overseas visitors. High-profile sporting events such as the Rip Curl Pro and the Stawell Gift play a pivotal role in promoting tourism in regional Victoria. By maintaining our position as the nation’s sporting hub we are able to ensure that visitors continue visiting our great state.