Executive Officer of the Northern Territory’s Camel Industry Association, Peter Seidel, has been named the first Honorary Ambassador for Alice Springs. He was appointed by Alice Springs Town Council to represent the town and Central Australian region overseas.
As a volunteer ambassador, he will foster tourism, business and cultural links aimed at improving the social and economic fabric of the town.
Peter Seidel already travels around Australia and to South East Asia promoting the NT camel industry, which has been operating since 1996.The Camel Industry Association owns an incorporated company, Camels International Pty Ltd, which began exporting meat and live camels three years ago.
He said Central Australia was not as widely known overseas as most Australians believed and there was a huge opportunity to create international exposure for the region.
“We just assume in Australia that because of Uluru and the beautiful West Macdonnell Ranges people overseas automatically know about Central Australia, but they don’t,” he said.
When visiting countries like Malaysia and Brunei, Peter hosts promotional dinners for camel meat importers, featuring Australian cuisine.
“At one of these dinners a few years ago, I mentioned Alice Springs and Central Australia and I just got a sea of blank faces, so that became my challenge – to make people more aware,” he said. “It was a real wake up call.”
Alice Springs Mayor, Fran Kilgariff, said 80 per cent of visitors to Council’s web site came from overseas. She said the site attracted 6,600 hits a week, including 40 per cent from North America, 40 per cent from other overseas countries and 20 per cent from Australia.
Mayor Kilgariff presented Peter Seidel with business cards and a certificate bearing his new title of Honorary Ambassador. She said the appointment was indefinite, he would not receive any payment or in kind compensation and would report back to Alice Springs CEO, Rex Mooney.
For further information contact Peter Seidel, email peterseidel@camelsaust.com.au or telephone (08) 8951 8111, or visit www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au.
