Tourism operators have slammed Grampians Tourism, saying the industry body for the region has failed to push for more volunteers to man visitor information centres in the area.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Stawell Visitor Information Centre is open five days instead of seven, after Grampians Tourism took control of the premises from Northern Grampians Shire Council about 18 months ago.
Tourism operators also said they were concerned about the drop in the level of staffing at the Halls Gap centre.
Kookaburra Hotel Halls Gap owner Rick Heinrich said tourism was a growing industry and needed more investment.
“The Grampians Peaks Trail is estimated to attract about 10 thousand more international visitors to the Grampians,” he said.
“Why then are we seeing no effort to get more volunteers in so the Stawell visitor centre can be open seven days and why is there no effort to bolster the Halls Gap centre’s numbers.”
According to Remplan economic data the tourism industry was the fifth largest in the Northern Grampians municipality and accounted for a total of 503 jobs.
“Tourism is growing and sustainable, so given the fact tourism alone is the fifth biggest in the shire, why is there a lack of investment in tourist services,” Mr Heinrich said.
Stawell Grampians Gate Caravan Park’s Marianne Braam said the Stawell Visitor Information Centre had received complaints about the lack of service and its closure from seven to five days during the week.
“You go in there on a busy day and there is one person behind the counter,” she said.
“The whole service has dropped from partial closure to now a lack of service.”
Great Western’s Tollgate gallery owner Vija Harris said the partial closure was a disruption to small businesses.
“If the centre is closed on the weekend, it makes it harder for businesses like ours that are only open on Fridays and weekends.”
Stawellbiz secretary Chris Waack said he had received several complaints from businesses.
“Members of our committee have been volunteering to open the centre on a Tuesday, but there needs to be a review by Grampians Tourism and council to see how the centre can return to being fully manned.”
- Grampians Tourism and Northern Grampians Shire Council declined to comment on the story.