Inadequate access to even basics like toilets could be costing Geelong a fifth of its potential tourism trade, according to a state MP.
The city’s accessibility shortcomings were possibly keeping away many disabled and elderly tourists as well as prospective visitors with young children, said Member for Geelong Christine Couzens.
She convened a forum in Geelong this week to discuss the issue, saying she wanted the city accessible for “all abilities”.
“From what I hear, Geelong is not very accessible in many ways, even on basic things like toilet access or access into buildings and safe and secure places,” Ms Couzens said.
“There are some great opportunities for Geelong to take the lead to become an amazing accessible city and to the lead the way, not just for residents for tourists as well.”
Ms Couzens believed that Geelong was probably losing a large amount of tourism business for want of access amenities that could cost nothing.
“Available evidence” indicated that incorporating accessibility elements into urban design from the initial stages of planning bore additional costs of one per cent or less, she said.
But cities depending on tourism were likely to pay “high opportunity costs” if they filed to cater for prospective visitors with access issues.
“It is estimated that, in economic terms, that by not adapting its inaccessible infrastructure the tourism industry would fail to capture approximately 15 to 20 per cent of the global market share,” Ms Couzens said.
She contrasted Geelong’s apparent accessibility issues with its development as a social insurance hub.
“Geelong has a great opportunity to create an accessible city that meets the needs of everyone in our community. In Geelong we now have Worksafe’s head office, the TAC and the NDIS, which has created an insurance hub, adding to the importance of accessibility for all abilities.”
Ms Couzens’ concerns about the impact of accessibility issues for visitors followed a report in the Indy last month that tourism was on the verge of becoming a $1 billion industry for greater Geelong.
Tourism spending reached $902 million last year as 5.1 million tourists flocked to Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, said local industry boss Roger Grant.
The growth meant tourism now employed 5315 workers locally, up 19 per cent in a year, he said.
