Geelong wins tourism funds

GEELONG has won a long battle to run its own tourism board.
Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine will become Victoria’s 11th Regional Tourism Board with a $275,000 Labor Government funding commitment.
Tourism minister and member for Lara John Eren said the decision would enable the local board to increase visitation and jobs.
Geelong and the Surf Coast part of a local region tourism board headed by Roger grant until the previous state government decided to create a lesser number of larger regions.
However Geelong rebelled and decided to go it alone, but having to virtually fund its own operations via the City of Greater Geelong.
The new board covers the area from Werribee to Barwon Heads, including Bannockburn, Geelong and Portarlington.
Mr Eren said the move was made to ensure “Geelong and the Bellarine maintains its status as a renowned tourism hot spot”.
He said the Government recently secured the future of Jetstar at Avalon Airport, saving jobs and boosting tourism, and was transforming Geelong’s Simonds Stadium into a world-class arena capable of staging the biggest and best events.
“This will bring more events like the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and the Rip Curl Pro, which attracts visitors from all over the world and puts the region on the map.
“We promised to take action to grow the region’s tourism stocks and we’re getting on with it. Regional Victoria is a key part of our plan.
“We want to give Greater Geelong and the Bellarine’s tourism operators every opportunity to welcome more visitors, and for longer. It means more jobs and growth for local communities.
“Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine is already doing great work promoting local tourism, and Labor’s investment will support the organisation to do even more for the region.”