A.C.T. TOURISM MEDIA STATEMENT & POLICY - 1999 ELECTION
MEDIA STATEMENT
High quality natural experiences, moderately priced accommodation and Wollongong's industrial history are the keys to kick starting tourism in Wollongong.
"Wollongong must begin to draw Sydney's 4 million people through its stunning northern suburbs, rather than funnel them through the concrete walled expressway," Cr Dave Martin said today in launching, the Active Community Team's Tourism policy.
Bulli Tops and Stanwell Tops need to be starting point of great weekend away where Sydney's sprawling mass could get away from it all and enjoy Wollongong's superb beaches, guided tours through an escarpment national park, great restaurants on the fore shores, he said.
But more is needed in terms of infrastructure and man made attractions as well to fill out the two or three day get away packages.
High on this list are a working coalmine, operating as it did a hundred years ago. Bulli is clearly the best site, visible just below the world famous lookout at Bulli. There are two million Sydney school kids who would almost certainly visit a re-created mine as part of their school excursion program. It would be a vital attraction in drawing their families back here at a later date. Ballarat's Sovereign Hill mining village was positive proof that a regional city could be successful in this sort of venture. The antique, restaurant
An industrial and maritime museum planned for Lake Illawarra was another afternoon's activity that would be critical in extending the number of nights visitors stayed.
Let's face it - our core tourism market is Sydney. For people on a budget, accommodation needs to be affordable, comfortable and close to the beach. It's critical that bed and breakfasts, serviced apartments, backpacker lodges, cabins and hotels and motels are the basis of the accommodation we build.
Les Gilleard, a Bulli Tops restaurant and tourism centre operator, and A.C.T. Ward 1 candidate said. "There is an untapped market for tourism in Wollongong. We need not only to increase the number of visitors to the Illawarra but increase the length of their stay. The benefits coming from both direct spending and the flow-on to other businesses, Mr Gilleard has put his money where his mouth is and is funding, in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, The N.S.W. State government and Wollongong City Council, an expanded visitor information and welcome centre at his cafe and service station site at Bulli Tops.
"More than ten thousand cars per day travel past this point on most days. Our strategy must be to stop them, give them a taste of what we have to offer and entice them down to spend some time exploring this magnificent area and its communities" Mr Gilleard said.
TOURISM POLICY STATEMENT
Key Points for the continued focus on the growth of Tourism in the Illawarra.
Alternative Industry.
There is a need to Improve links between tourism and other industries in the Illawarra Region. These links are currently indirect. There is a widely held understanding that the region must diversify its economic base through tourism to counter a reliance on traditional industries. There is a need to develop the tourism strategy and infrastructure that will result in two major outcomes. Increased visitation and longer visitation. From this there will be economic flow-on to the region, by Direct Spending and Tourism Expenditure. These major outcomes have the potential ability to grow the tourist earning by an estimated 10 to 15%. Based on Tourism NSW local government estimates on expenditure this may result in an influx into the regional economy in the order of $49 to $74 million. Based on the multiplier effects this may add another $23 to $34 million to the regional economy.
The city of Wollongong is within an easy one hour drive from the city of Sydney and a 40 to 50 minute drive from the greater western suburbs. To ensure that we take advantage of this untapped market, there is a need for a strategy that wilt ensure that the visitors to the area are those that have the required disposable income to stay In the region for up to two days. We also need to ensure we do not ignore the day tripper who comes to our region to enjoy the beaches, escarpment landscapes and natural beauty of the region.
From this there will be benefits in terms of employment for the region. These new jobs will occur through:
Increased construction of facilities both existing and new projects, operational staffing levels, in directly related services. increases in tourist expenditure and by private sector investment. There is no doubt that a stimulus of this nature to the regional economy will serve to stimulate the private sector and encourage the creation of new small business to support this activity, both within and outside the tourism industry.
ie. Bed and Breakfast accommodation, guided tours, manufacture of tourist craft products, hotels, night clubs, restaurants and cafes, local food producers (bakers, fruit and fresh produce).
Protection of the Environment
A collective approach by indigenous groups concerned community groups, Wollongong Council and the NPWS will secure an international and National profile for inbound and regional tourism, to secure a greater identity for Wollongong and the Illawarra region This will:
· Promote the grandeur of the Illawarra escarpment landscapes, coastal experiences and other conservation values in the area.
· Provide ongoing support to Illawarra communities for conservation and sustainable land management in the Illawarra Southern Highlands and South Coast regions.
· Assist in the promotion of quality visitor experiences in natural landscapes, National Parks and reserves.
· Work with commercial operators to achieve agreed conservation and visitor management outcomes, which support ongoing environmental care, demonstrate appropriate technologies to achieve environmental best practice.
· Deliver, education of environment and conservation in collaboration with visitor services.
· Using sustainable tourism as a tool for conservation and economic development
· Ensure an understanding of the interrelationship between tourism and the environment.
As council, we need to focus on the need s of those that are trying to establish a small business or niche market. This can be achieved by being more sympathetic to issues such as development of B&B type accommodation, back packer accommodation, low rise accommodation with in the reached of our beaches and escarpments. Assistance for those that are still waiting for sewage and it is this lack of an essential service that is delaying their development. Assistance with accreditation for small group tour operators who are attempting to gain access to the escarpment and existing walking tracks.
Authorised - Dave Martin
Note - Angelfire has no responsibility for the content of this web page
Return to Kerrie's Main ACT Web Page
Thank you for visiting my page at Angelfire. Please come back and visit again!
My Favorite Web sites