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Gippsland Tourism cited as ideal country modelGippsland Tourism has been highlighted in a parliamentary report tabled July 30 as the ideal model for future co-ordinated tourism development and promotion across country Victoria. By Kevin Balshaw - 31st July 2008 - Back to News Gippsland Tourism has been highlighted in a parliamentary report tabled July 30 as the ideal model for future co-ordinated tourism development and promotion across country Victoria.
The Member for Eastern Victoria, Philip Davis, said Gippsland councils had been far-sighted in establishing Gippsland Tourism, recently restructured to become Destination Gippsland, as the centrepoint for building the region’s marketing profile.
Mr Davis said the umbrella organisation demonstrated the merit of a co-operative, region-wide approach to maximise the impact of promotional campaigns and the economic benefits of regional tourism.
"The Gippsland Tourism model also shows the advantage of providing a central forum for councils, local tourism organisations and businesses to deal with issues facing the sector and put forward initiatives that create benefit for the whole region," he said.
"This contrasts with the more localised approach in other areas of the State, which has the effect of diffusing the industry’s promotional and developmental programs and creates wasteful duplication of effort."
The key recommendation of the 272-page report of the Parliament’s Rural and Regional Committee is that the State Government support the development and ongoing funding of peak tourism bodies similar to Gippsland Tourism in 10 regional campaign areas covering the whole of country Victoria.
Mr Davis said the recommendation was significant not only for its recognition of Gippsland Tourism but its implication that there should be a stronger partnership between the Government, councils, tourism bodies and operators for tourism development and promotion and that more recurrent funding should be made for country tourism.
Also significant for Gippsland are a series of recommendations covering the impact of natural disasters, such as floods and bushfires, on the tourism sector.
In this respect, the committee recommended:
The Department of Infrastructure, Industry and Rural Development and Tourism Victoria provide specialised counselling and business advisory services to assist tourism operators affected by natural disaster;
The Government provide additional funding for the prompt repair of infrastructure damaged in natural disasters, and utilise the skills and experience of licensed tour operators in recovery works in national parks and State forests;
Tourism Victoria develop a communications plan to assist visitor information centres and provide timely, accurate public information in the event of natural disasters; and
The Government develop a detailed tourism disaster relief strategy to minimise the impact of natural disasters on country tourism.
Mr Davis said the committee had picked up most of the concerns and suggestions put to the two public hearings it held in Gippsland, at Lakes Entrance and Traralgon, during its inquiry.
"These include deficiencies in the promotion of country destinations, the need for country tourism to be more closely related to the decision making within Tourism Victoria, the need for infrastructure and improved signage, problems caused by planning restrictions, and the need to ensure all areas of the State have access to high-speed broadband and mobile phone coverage," he said.
"On another issue of particular relevance to Gippsland, the committee has also recommended that national buslines such as Greyhound Australia be permitted to pick up and set down passengers travelling on routes between Melbourne and other capital cities.
"The Government must now respond to the report within six months, and I look forward to a positive and supportive announcement for the future of tourism in country Victoria."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: kevin.balshaw@parliament.vic.gov.au
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