A PORT CAMPBELL tourism operator says the visitor experience at the Twelve Apostles is being killed because of overcrowding and a lack of infrastructure.
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Former Parks Victoria employee and owner of Port Campbell Touring Company, John McInerney, told The Standard he had tourists who flew in by helicopter to see the iconic site but abandoned the Twelve Apostles once they saw the large crowds.
“That’s what it’s like probably 50 per cent of the year on that boardwalk,” he said.
“It’s that whole visitor experience that is actually being killed because of overcrowding and a lack of facilities. The other thing is, in terms of tourism, what we’re trying to get people is a value add to the tourism experience unfortunately that’s not happening at the moment.
“The way it is designed at the moment, it’s designed for in and out and suitable for day coaches out of Melbourne.
“In terms of the economic advantages to this region, between Apollo Bay and Warrnambool, there is very little compared with the numbers that come through. From a park value there’s no value adding to the visitor experience when they come through.”
Mr McInerney said he worried that by charging a fee to visitors there was no guarantee that the money would got back to improving infrastructure and services there.
“If you compare it with the penguin colony at Phillip Island they are completely separate from state government so money that they raise actually stays in the area.”
Mr McInerney said the time had come for infrastructure to be looked at because the demand was outstripping capacity at the site.