Charlotte Varcoe
THE Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA) has earmarked a significant funding increase to market tourism for the region in a massive win for local businesses following all seven local councils increasing its funding to $300,000.
The funds will support another tourism staff member for the LCLGA as well as marketing campaigns across digital platforms and reaching predetermined targets earlier than anticipated.
LCLGA tourism industry development manager Biddie Shearing said the extra funding would allow the association to complete a number of actions outlined in its strategic plan sooner and in a much more connected way throughout the region.
“The Limestone Coast has 24 individual tourism groups or associations and business groups and the additional investment will help us get out and work closely with them and develop more of an umbrella message that we send out as a region,” Ms Shearing said.
“We have identified three key markets that we are looking at including younger couples, older couples and young families because we have seen that they are our best proponent in terms of wanting to come to the region and would come back again, spend money but also talk about the region to their friends following their visit.”
Ms Shearing said the association agreed a top priority identified throughout the Covid-19 pandemic was tourism and economic development with businesses and operators continuing to express uncertainty in the sector throughout the last 18-months.
“It is a relief for us and we are all really grateful because I hope that we can do justice to the tourism industry which has really been knocked over the last 18-months and we will be doing everything we can to make sure we are able to support them,” she said.
Comfort Inn The Lakes owner Val Michielan said accommodation businesses have been challenged throughout the pandemic, stating her business may not have survived if the border police did not decide to reside there.
“People are also more aware of what is available in the state now than previously and we have people here telling us they have come out here because they now want to experience the rural areas,” Ms Michielan said.
“Having a website for the region will also help because a lot of visitors look at those types of websites when they are planning their trip which means they are coming here for a specific reason.”
South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex said the commission had been speaking with tourism operators within the Limestone Coast and understood the recent restrictions led to lost bookings.
“We are doing everything we can to promote the area and get people back to the Limestone Coast,” Mr Harrex said.
