By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A NEW authority will replace Geelong Otway Tourism, refocusing the organisation away from the Great Ocean Road.
But the move could cost the region further Tourism Victoria funding, forcing increased industry contributions.
Geelong’s council voted this week to establish Greater Geelong and Bellarine Tourism.
The new body was an alternative to joining Tourism Victoria’s mooted mega board covering Geelong to the South Australian border.
Geelong Otway Tourism business manager Brett Ince said Geelong’s council, as the body’s major source of funding, had decided to spend its money locally.
Mr Ince said discussions were continuing with Tourism Victoria regarding future funding opportunities.
“Tourism Victoria understands the reasons for the separation of the tourist boards but we’ll lobby for similar funding to other stand-alone near-metropolitan tourism regions.
“If there’s no further Tourism Victoria funding available it would mean more industry contributions.”
Mr Ince said the proposed Great Ocean Road Tourism Board would still go ahead without Geelong, covering an area stretching from Torquay to South Australia. Geelong’s new tourism authority would seek to have “strong links” with the regional mega board once it was operating, he said.
“Even though the two will be separate corporate entities they’ll work closely together.”
“If we’re marketing Geelong and the Bellarine to Melbourne we’ll focus on our own product, including the waterfront, food and wine, as opposed to nature-based tourism for the Great Ocean Road.
“But when it comes to interstate and international marketing we’ll continue partnerships with Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism and we still leverage off that iconic brand.”
The Independent revealed in June that Geelong’s council had delayed its agreement to the new mega board based on funding issues.
Council wanted Tourism Victoria to increase its funding commitment to the new mega board to make local government contributions “more equitable”.
The new local board will be established in partnership with Borough of Queenscliffe and Golden Plains Shire.
Geelong council tourism portfolio holder Cr Ron Nelson said it was time Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula stood on their own two feet.
Cr Nelson did not anticipate any issues in working with the new regional board or receiving funding from Tourism Victoria despite going it alone.
Tourism Minister Louise Asher was unable to comment before the Independent went to press.
