Have your say on how to strengthen local tourism

COMMUNITIES across the Bellarine are invited to have their say on the future of tourism, following the release of the Andrews Labor Government’s Regional Tourism Review Discussion Paper.

Tourism is crucial to Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula and it is booming – in the latest combined tourism survey results, international and domestic visitors to the region spent $1.1 million in the year ending March 2019, a growth of 9.5 per cent.

The Labor Government acknowledges there’s still more work to be done, and Geelong Government MPs last week welcomed the launch of the formal consultation stage of the Regional Tourism Review to coincide with the Review Discussion Paper.

The release of the Discussion Paper continues consultation held over the past few months across regional Victoria.

Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville said this Review was about supporting further local tourism operators and providing every opportunity to bring even more visitors to our iconic and pristine part of the world.

The Regional Tourism Review, launched in March, aims to find opportunities to better support tourism operators, encourage private investment and create more regional jobs.

The Discussion Paper has identified five key themes: strengthening our tourism offering, making the most of marketing spending, supporting industry, enhancing Regional Tourism Boards and better coordinating effort.

A series of regional consultations with tourism industry stakeholders will be held from July to September, while members of the public are invited to make submissions through the Engage Victoria website.

To view the Discussion Paper and have your say before the August 30 deadline for public submissions, visit engage.vic.gov.au/regionaltourism- review.

The Geelong stakeholder forum will be held on September 6 from 1pm.