The group - comprising RAAF Museum operations officer Steve Baker, Point Cook Homestead ghost tour leader Jan Evans, Essence Food Studios' hostess Alaine Beek and motel owner George Tomkins - represents an expanding network of businesses joining forces to make Wyndham a tourist drawcard.

They met last week to prepare for the Wyndham Tourism Expo.

The Wyndham Tourism Association will host the annual event this weekend and it will have more than 20 local stalls.

This year's expo will have two tours run by Wyndham Council - the Werribee Township Historic Walk and the Public Art in Wyndham Tour.

WTA chairman Mr Tomkins said the growth of the Wyndham tourism industry was reflected through increased association membership, which has doubled in the past 18 months. "The whole gamut of

businesses are networking through the association, and realising that the benefits of local tourism are not just limited to the main attractions. For every dollar spent at a major attraction, that's another dollar spent at the local service station, supermarket, restaurants and accommodation providers."

He said Wyndham's reputation as a tourist drawcard for both residents and visitors had "come ahead leaps and bounds".

"We've got so much on our doorstep - the racecourse, the zoo, the mansion, the homestead, not to mention highly successful smaller operations such as Essence Food Studios. And then there's the natural attractions like Point Cook Coastal Park and the Werribee River."

Mr Tomkins said the expo was aimed at informing residents about well-known and smaller tourism operators. Alaine Beek, of Essence Food Studios, encouraged residents and business owners to attend the event at Werribee Plaza this Friday and Saturday.