Crikey, Mandurah WA is a finalist in the international City Nation Place Awards alongside London, Cape Town, Fiji and other key destinations

Western Australia’s largest regional city, Mandurah has been named a finalist in the 9th international City Nation Place Awards alongside Fiji, Cape Town, London and other major destinations.

The only Australian city named in the category for Best Communication Strategy – Tourism, Mandurah is one of eleven finalists in recognition for its ‘Big Reasons to Visit Mandurah This Summer’ campaign that ran in 2022 and part of this year.

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. Whether the destinations live up to the hype is in the end for the travellers to decide.

The campaign highlighted Mandurah’s unique attractions and experiences including its canals and waterways, natural bushland and wildlife, beaches and bays, and vibrant food and drink scene.

Other campaigns that did well in the category included Aarhus, Denmark’s ‘Your Local Love’ marketing run; ‘a ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign; and Palm Springs, USA’s ‘An Oasis of Art’ advertising spiel.

Naturally, the Mandurah campaign steered clear of mentioning any of the city’s dodgier aspects. Indeed, the recent good news is a far cry from what crime figures suggested back in 2017. Back then, WA police figures revealed that on average three people were being assaulted in Mandurah each day and that Mandurah’s CBD had almost as many assaults than Northbridge, Perth’s popular nightlife district.

While the recent marketing has helped move Mandurah towards the top of the destination pop charts, it is now up to the city’s council representatives to ensure Mandurah’s livability and likeability remain on par at peak status.

Suffice to say, the recent inclusion in the City Nation Place Awards list, along with accolades such as Australia’s Top Tourism Town (awarded in September 2023) and Western Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2022 and 2023 will hopefully mean Mandurah councils and authorities will keep working towards making the place a tip-top tourist destination.

Winners of the City Nation Place Awards will be announced November 9th.

Antonino Tati

FINALISTS IN THE CITY NATION PLACE AWARDS ‘BEST COMMUNICATION STRATEGY’ CATEGORY:

Cape Town, South Africa, Limitless Cape Town, entered by Cape Town Tourism

Fiji, Where Happiness Comes Naturally, entered by Tourism Fiji

Greater Palm Springs, USA, An Oasis Of Art, entered by Visit Greater Palm Springs

Iceland, OutHorse Your Email, entered by Business Iceland, [Credits: SS+K, Peel Iceland, M&C Saatchi TALK, Republik]

London, England, Let’s Do London 2022, entered by M&C Saatchi (on behalf of London & Partners) [Credits: London & Partners, Wavemaker]

Mandurah, Western Australia, BIG Reasons To Visit Mandurah This Summer, entered by Visit Mandurah

Part of the ‘Giants of Mandurah’ free outdoor exhibition.

Minneapolis, USA, See What All the Fuss is About, entered by Meet Minneapolis, [Credits: Periscope, Friend of a Friend PR]

Switzerland, Grand Train Tour Of Switzerland: The Ride Of A Lifetime, entered by Switzerland Tourism, [Credits: WIRZ Group]

Tel Aviv , Israel, We Don’t Do Winter, entered by Tel Aviv Global

The Pontiac, Canada, Route 148 – Your Best Vanlife In The Outaouais, entered by Visages régionaux

########