Funding boost for South West tourism

The Lower South West is set to receive a tourism boost with a new funding package from the Federal Government. Funding of $1.25 million will be used to try to attract visitors to the region, including $600,000 to promote the South West Edge driving route which runs through Pemberton along the south coast from Walpole, through to Esperance and up to Kalgoorlie or Hyden. The Accelerating Tourism Resilience Program will receive a $275,000 share of the money, while $200,000 will go to the Fly Direct to the South West campaign, $125,000 will be allocated to the South West Adventure Trails campaign and $50,000 will be used to establish a Generator Network Innovation Online Forum, which offers online training to grow tourism businesses. O’Connor MHR Rick Wilson welcomed the announcement for the region. “Having more people visit the south-western corner of Australia along the epic South West Edge tourist route will help develop the tourism economies of many regional towns, cities and shires,” he said. “From the southern karri forests, along the stunning south coast, and back towards Perth via Wave Rock or the historic Goldfields, is an epic road-trip that every Australian should complete at least once in their lives.” Forrest MHR Nola Marino said she was happy the the South West was receiving the funding it deserved. “The regions are the engine room of the Australian economy and it’s fantastic to see that the Morrison Government is investing in the South West,” she said. “This funding provides the region’s tourism sector a boost, the South West has established itself as a premium tourist destination in Western Australia. “Providing the additional funding will attract more visitors which will support tourism jobs in the South West.” The funding comes as part of the Government’s Recovery for Regional Tourism program, which is an initiative of its $1b COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund.