The Australian state of Victoria was on show as Visit Victoria held a press conference on 17th August featuring Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant and MasterChef Australia star Sarah Todd. During the event, Mr. Pant recounted his favorite Melbourne moment, announcing a contest that will go live on the official page this weekend to win a chance to experience Melbourne this cricket season.
He encouraged travellers to enter the competition by selecting the Melbourne moment they’d like to experience. To help inspire submissions Visit Victoria unveiled an art installation by Arthat which is a 3D anamorphic pixel art depicting the city’s iconic street locations. The press meet was followed by a special one of its kind cricket inspired three course lunch menu curated by Sarah Todd, runner up of MasterChef Australia 2022.
Brendan McClements, CEO, Visit Victoria said, “India is an important market for us. In year ending December 2019, we recorded 178,000 visitors with 47.3 per cent market share making Victoria the most popular Australian state out of India. This year, as visitors return to Australian shores, we are confident we will see a strong rebound in visitor numbers. As host of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final, as well as being recently announced and the home of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Victoria is the place to be for big events. We also offer nature, adventure, creativity, culture and amazing food and hospitality.”
In October, Melbourne will host two significant ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup matches at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) – the India vs Pakistan match on October 23 as well as the final on 13 November 2022. Referring to the same, Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant said, “The MCG is a historic venue that has witnessed some of the best cricket played so far, by legends of the game. Emotions are always high when you play there and more so during the World Cup. It’s a venue that I as a cricketer always look forward to playing at.”
Sarah Todd, MasterChef Australia star spoke about the evolving food culture of the city; “Melbourne is at the heart of the food culture in Australia. It’s all about championing local produce and adding your brand of creativity to it to bring out clean, elegant flavours. It’s a perfect representation of my own cooking style and I am glad that it has been received so well here in India.”
Shae Keenan, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Victoria mentioned, “People are approaching travel with renewed enthusiasm post pandemic. They are on the lookout for immersive travel experiences that let them unwind and connect with one other.”
