South West MP calls for tourism funding after Amazing South Coast collapse

Shadow treasurer Steve Thomas has urged the WA Government to splash some of its historic $5.6 billion surplus on a new destination marketing initiative for the Albany, Denmark and Mt Barker regions after the collapse of Amazing South Coast Tourism. Mr Thomas this week slammed the McGowan Government’s State Budget as “another lost opportunity” for Albany. “I have been asking the Government to look at what tourism and marketing looks like for the south coast,” he said. “For two years I have been requesting that they do this differently, that if they are not going to support and make Amazing South Coast work then they need to tell people what their alternative is and to be honest there is nothing. “In a time when you have got the biggest surplus ever, surely the marketing of the south coast tourism industry should have been a major priority and it is just not there.” Albany’s tourism infrastructure is set to receive millions of dollars as part of this year’s Budget including $3.3 million for a kiosk, toilets and parking at The Gap, and $3.2 million for walking, hiking and mountain bike trails across the Mt Adelaide and Mt Clarence precincts. As part of a 2017 State Government election commitment, $1 million over four years was committed towards marketing the Amazing South Coast region — the agreement expired in July. Difficulty securing new funding and new members proved fatal for the organisation. The region is now marketed by one of the State Government’s five regional tourism organisations, Australia’s South West. A State Government spokeswoman said more than $20 million over five years was allocated to support WA’s regional tourism organisations through Tourism WA in January. “We’re confident that this funding, combined with the expertise of the team at Australia’s South West, will ensure Albany will be well represented and resourced in terms of marketing and promotion into the future,” she said. “In a further show of commitment to marketing the many tourism assets of Albany, the Great Southern Development Commission and Australia’s South West have joined forces to establish a new tourism and trade officer role, based in Albany. “This role will be an important link between local tourism businesses and Australia’s South West to support and drive industry engagement, align strategic partnerships and maximise marketing opportunities.”