The decision was made at its ordinary meeting of council on Wednesday, January 19.
Among other activities, this will include operating an accredited Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in the Tocumwal foreshore building.
The VIC will be staffed by council employees and volunteers and will represent all of Berrigan shire.
A VIC is seen as part of council’s community service infrastructure and forms a small part of council’s larger plan to engage more broadly across the tourism industry.
Ongoing industry consultation, as part of the review of the council’s Tourism Strategy, uncovered a reoccurring theme; industry felt there was urgent need for council to provide immediate support of the local tourism industry through the provision of accredited visitor information servicing.
Tocumwal Aviation Museum and The ‘Drome Café’s’ Matt Henderson is confident that the establishment of a permanent accredited VIC within the Tocumwal foreshore building will provide a positive outcome for tourism operators within the Shire.
“The outcomes and success of our partnership with council on the Tocumwal Aviation Museum is evidence of what can be achieved by council supporting and enabling tourism operators and contributing to the positive flow-on economic and community,” Mr Henderson said.
“With the recent easing of restrictions and notable increase in tourists through Tocumwal and the region, the new VIC will assist with visitor engagement, awareness and visibility for the region’s many tourism businesses.”
Visitor information services include a suite of engagement activity ranging from marketing and attraction, visitor engagement and information provision, through to return service and analysis of what is a complex market sector.
The approach for council is multi-channelled and will require engagement with a range of important stakeholder, industry groups and professionals as partners to council’s longer-term investment in the sector.
Council’s hope is that the VIC will be the first step in solidifying the current fragmentation of council’s approach to tourism. It will allow continued investment into the marketing sector, address council’s inability to report on the tangible results of its investment and provide the industry the support it has directly requested.
Berrigan Shire Mayor Matt Hannan said he is looking forward to the implementation of council’s new focus on tourism across the Shire.
“Council’s aim is to work broadly with, and in support of, our entire tourism sector,” Cr Hannan said.
“Council believe we can work in step with local industry groups to provide a better and more sustainable service.
“We are excited that we can provide this depth of support to an industry that represents some 60 per cent of our GDP.
“Its recovery from the devastation of the previous two years is vital to the growth and sustainability of the shire as a whole.”
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