By Natalee Kerr
A new tourism plan “lacks” ideas to preserve Geelong’s history, according to the city’s council watchdog.
Council’s three-year tourism plan was “vital” but needed “more emphasis” on local history, said Ratepayers Geelong president Jim Collins.
Council adopted the three-year plan earlier this month, identifying 40 projects to maximise “the visitor economy”. New five-star hotels, an Eastern Beach spa complex and an Avalon Airport rail link were the plan’s “priority” projects.
“Many of the projects are wonderful in themselves but they have to stand up to the light of day,” Mr Collins said.
“Preserving our old buildings and developing the waterfront are the kind of things that are important because they hold the history of our great city.”
A council report on the Greater Geelong and the Bellarine Tourism Development Plan forecast visitation to climb from 5.8 million to 7.5 million annually by 2027, requiring an extra 1560 extra guest rooms.
Tourism was generating $2.2 billion in economic value and supporting almost 11,300 jobs across greater Geelong, the report said.
Mayor Bruce Harwood said the report identified “outstanding opportunities” to build on Geelong’s “strong visitation.”
“Tourism has been identified as one of the five sectors that can secure greater Geelong’s financial future,” he said.
“Council will continue to advocate very strongly to state and federal governments for the investment we need in tourism infrastructure.”
