Encouraging Great Ocean Road visitors to venture further into Corangamite Shire will be the subject of a study tour undertaken by one of the shire’s councillors later this year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Coastal Ward councillor Peter Harkin has been awarded the 2016 McArthur Local Government Fellowship and will use the $12,000 in funding for a fact-finding mission to the UK and Ireland.
Municipal Association of Victoria president Bill McArthur said the scholarship would help Cr Harkin learn new ways to boost the economic benefits of local tourist drawcards like the Twelve Apostles.
“The purpose of Cr Harkin’s project is to advance local tourism in western Victoria by encouraging the vast numbers of tourists who visit the 12 Apostles to continue their stay in the shire,” Cr McArthur said.
“The 12 Apostles attracts millions of tourists every year, but only a small percentage venture to other places in Corangamite.
“Cr Harkin plans to travel to Ireland and the UK to learn about how government and non-government organisations have tackled tourism challenges in similar circumstances, and what effects this has had on local communities.”
Cr Harkin will visit sites such as Stonhenge and the Giant’s Causeway to learn how the local area capitalises on that tourism.
He plans to travel in July and will report back at the annual MAV conference in September.
The fellowship is awarded to a Victorian councillor to undertake an overseas study tour. Nine applications were received for the program this year.
MORE TO COME
