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Tourism’S Big Impact On Bass CoastA Bass Coast Shire report on the Economic Impact of Tourism was launched this week by the Minister for Tourism, MP John Pandazopoulos. By Bass Coast Shire Council - 14th March 2006 - Back to News The report highlighted the significance of tourism to Bass Coast. An estimated 3.4 million people visit each year, spending more than $440 million in the Shire.
Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Allan Bawden, said the findings of the report confirmed the importance of tourism for the area.
"Tourism is an important economic driver for this Shire," said Mr Bawden.
"Of course we’ve always known the significance of tourism, but the results of the report were still surprising.
"It identified that the impact was greater than we’d previously estimated."
The report was commissioned to clearly identify the size and nature of the tourism industry in Bass Coast. Mr Bawden said that it was an essential part of developing a successful tourism strategy for the Shire.
"This report gives us the kind of information that is needed in order to facilitate investment in tourism infrastructure," Mr Bawden said.
"It will be a great source of information for prospective investors and our current tourism operators."
Mr Bawden said the report also highlighted the economic significance of holiday homeowners.
"There is a tendancy to think of tourism just in terms of people making quick visits to the Shire, to visit the penguins or attend special events," said Mr Bawden.
"But this report clearly shows that holiday home owners are a very large part of the market, contributing $219 million in direct visitor expenditure annually.
Mr Bawden said the results of the report confirmed a strong continuation of sea change phenomenon, and were vital in terms of future policy decisions for the Shire.
"47 per cent of holiday homeowners stated that they intended to live permanently in their holiday homes in the future," said Mr Bawden.
"Of this 47 per cent, 86 per cent say they plan to retire to Bass Coast.
"These figures are important not only in terms of ongoing population increase, but in terms of planning for the impact of an increasingly ageing demographic."
Headline results
Key findings of the study include:
- An estimated 3.4 million people visit Bass Coast Shire every year
- Visitors spend more than $440 million in the Shire each year
- Over 10,000 holiday homes in the Shire, contribute 1.1 million visitors annually
- More than half of all businesses in the Shire rely on tourism for their income
- Overnight visitors spend on average $260 per person per visit and daytrip visitors spend $78 per person per visit.
Council engaged consultants, Urban Enterprise Pty Ltd, to complete a major study into the economic impact of tourism in the shire. Research included surveys of visitors, accommodation providers, holiday home owners and businesses. Photograph (see attached): Cr Kelly Simrajh, Tourism Manager Ken Hore, CEO Allan Bawden and Minister for Tourism MP John Pandazopoulos launch the Shire’s Economic Impact of Tourism on Bass Coast study.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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