Northern Grampians Shire Council has voted on changes to the region's visitor information services

Outlined in the agenda were four options for the council to vote on with a focus on post-arrival destination visitor information services which included face-to-face visitor information centres.

A review of the visitor information services was conducted and options for the delivery of the service were presented.

Council voted for option two, which included a continuation of outsourcing the current level of service for 12 months before transiting to a council delivered service after that period.

The council delivered service would include:

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Data from Tourism Research Australia Local Government Profiles shows tourism in Northern Grampians attracted 528,000 visitors in 2018, who stayed two nights and spent $160 within the shire on average.

5.9 per cent directly contributed of value-added to the shire's economy in 2019-20.

Almost 10 per cent of jobs within Northern Grampians Shire were those directly related to the tourism industry.

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Grampians Tourism had a five-year agreement with Northern Grampians which was a three-year agreement, with the option of two extra years, which the Tourism body opted to take.

This agreement ended in August 2020 - but was granted a contract extension via exemption due to coronavirus.

Grampians Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman said his board had approved for the tourism body to put in for the tender for the 12-month contract while Northern Grampians Shire Council were in the transition phase.

"We've run visitor servicing for six years for Northern Grampians Shire," he said.

"The next 12 months will give the opportunity for Northern Grampians Shire to transition into being able to deliver the visitor services.

"At Grampians Tourism we will continue to focus on the core responsibilities on driving demand to the destination."

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