South-west hospitality workers have left the region to pursue work in other areas, a parliamentary inquiry has revealed.
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The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the south-west's tourism and events industries were revealed at the statewide inquiry this week.
Speaking in Camperdown on Thursday, Corangamite Shire Council chief executive Andrew Mason told the Legislative Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee that towns, businesses and tourism along the Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles had been "disproportionately impacted because of the loss of international tourism".
"We made the point strongly that Victoria's tourism isn't fixed because a couple of key destinations are busy," he said.
"The loss of international tourism is still of great concern, especially to the businesses who rely on them.
"The loss of hospitality workers, who have gone elsewhere for work during the pandemic, could make recovery even more difficult.
"We need the state government to fund more targeted marketing to entities like Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORRT) to market these areas that are most effected."
Mr Mason also suggested further infrastructure investments for roads and said city works could ensure the flow of money into the hard-hit communities.
Corangamite mayor Ruth Gstrein told the inquiry about the council's fear that some smaller events would not return as coronavirus restrictions eased, which would affect whole communities.
"The cancellation of some of our larger events like Inner Varnika and race meets really impact the economy of an area," Mr Mason said. "We said to the committee that there needs to be state government funding provided for events that have been forced to cancel so organisers can relay some of their costs and grants for new events.
"We think this would be a way to build confidence for people to start planning existing and new events."
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GORRT general manager Liz Price spoke at Wednesday's inquiry meeting at Anglesea and revealed that even in January 2021 - the traditionally busy period for the Twelve Apostles - visitation was still down 60 per cent from January 2020.
"We are still in crisis, the pandemic isn't over," Ms Price said.
She revealed key tourism attractions were operating at significantly less capacity. The Cape Otway Lighthouse is operating at 30 per cent less capacity and the operators have advised Parks Victoria they wiould relinquish their lease on June 30.
She urged the state government to accelerate both private and public infrastructure investment to the region including "game-changing" projects like the Tower Hill Activation, Budj Bim Cultural Landscape and the Cape Bridgewater Resort projects.
"The sector needs consistency and clarity around ongoing restrictions, a roadmap to the reopening of international borders and continued targeted support for affected businesses and ongoing stimulus for the sector to support growing mid-week overnight visitation," she said.
"International borders remain closed with projected openings not until mid-2022 which has many businesses questioning their capacity to remain viable.
"Interstate visitors are still lacking the confidence to travel. Events remain constrained and at the behest of a sudden lockdown and we continue to see events deciding not to go ahead due to the risk, cost and complexity of staging a Covid-SAFE event."
The Legislative Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee heard from representatives of the tourism and events industries from western Victoria.
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