Annoyed by the constant mockery of its name, Bland Shire located in New South Wales aims to take advantage of the situation by collaborating with Dull in Scotland and the American town of Boring.
For a long time regarded as an uninspiring destination because of its name, Bland’s tourism committee is considering the idea of promoting the region through partnerships with other towns that have unusual names.
The communities of Dull in Perthshire and Boring in Oregon have already come together to attract tourists and strengthen the connections between their towns.
“I believe we’ve had our share of jokes made at our expense over the years,” stated Bland Shire councillor Tony Lord, who emphasized that leveraging the humor around the name could yield benefits.
“Wherever there’s a perceived threat or negativity, there’s always a chance for opportunity.
“I think we need to adopt a positive mindset and focus on the potential opportunities that might arise or that we can create.”
With a population exceeding 6,000, Bland Shire’s name is a tribute to William Bland, the founder of the Australian Medical Association.
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