Calls to shift Great Ocean Road’s tourism model

THE tourism model for the Great Ocean Road will have to change significantly to reflect it is part of a living system and has limits, according to the first of a series of webinars about the issue.

The Great Ocean Road Communities Network (GORCN) presented the first of the five free events, The Tourism Model We Have, on Monday this week.

The webinar featured presentations Conscious Travel managing director Anna Pollock and Kennett River Association president Corrina Dichiera.

Introducing the series, GORCN convenor Dr Peter Christoff said tourism along the Great Ocean Road was of significant economic and educational value.

 

“But there’s a question: is tourism, mass visitation now out of control along the Great Ocean Road?

“Or maybe it should be a better question: is there a better way to help visitors enjoy what we all have to share?”

Ms Pollock said a root cause of overtourism was how tourism was seen as an industry, a “big industrial machine” that had only recently started to count costs, and it was time for a paradigm shift to a “living systems” model.

“If you look at the Great Ocean Road now, you could argue it’s more like a conveyor belt.”

She said some measures could be taken to manage overtourism, such as limiting day trip buses and introducing pre-purchased parking permits, but it was more important to co-ordinate with all levels of government and get strong community support.

“Just don’t wait until the stoning starts,” she said – a reference to residents of villages near English cultural icon Stonehenge throwing rocks at tourist buses passing through.

Ms Dichiera said years of showcasing the Great Ocean Road across Australia and overseas “had created a monster”, and the narrative had to change so towns such as Kennett River would not suffer.

“There’s been funding to promote the Great Ocean Road but there hasn’t been funding to manage the visitors that come.

She said the bureaucratic structure of responsible agencies was also a challenge, as was lack of leadership and political will for change.

“We can do better, we must do better, and we really hope that change is just around the corner.”

Seminar two, Resilient Tourism, Principles and Practice featuring he Tourism CoLab managing director Dr Dianne Dredge and Wildlife Wonders chief executive officer Lizzie Corke was held yesterday (Thursday, February 27) and the third seminar, Great Ocean Road Tourism Reimagined, will be held on Monday, March 3 featuring Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism general manager Liz Prize and Budji Bim Cultural Landscape acting manager Joey Saunders.

All sessions start at 4pm and will end at 5.30pm.

For more information, head to eventbrite.com.au/e/tourism-reimagined-and-the-great-ocean-road-tickets-1128350419479