New guide to promote natural wonders of Great Southern region

12/10/06
Tourism in the Great Southern has been given a boost with the launch today of the new nature-based tourism guide, 'A Region of Diversity'.
Attending the launch in Albany today, Premier Alan Carpenter said the guide would help market the Great Southern more widely as a place to visit, reinforcing Albany and the Great Southern's 'clean and green' reputation.
"The Great Southern has long been recognised as a world class biodiversity hotspot," Mr Carpenter said.
"Nature-based tourism has surged in importance as a valuable and growing element within the tourism sector.
"However, information on nature-based tourism in the region has tended to be disparate and difficult to access.
"The Region of Diversity guide addresses this problem and will be valuable to tourists and tourism operators alike."
The Premier said the guide would better integrate the region's growing nature-based tourism sector with its more mainstream tourist activities, increasing the range of tourism products available in the region.
The guide would also complement the range of tourism strategies already under way in the region, such as the northern shires' Heritage Trails, the City of Albany's 'Amazing Albany' and other initiatives developed by the Great Southern Marketing Association.
Mr Carpenter urged Western Australian holidaymakers to think local as the summer holiday season was approaching.
"WA has many attractions and one of them is the extraordinary range of nature-based tourism experiences that are located here in the Great Southern region," he said.
A Region of Diversity was produced by Green Skills Inc, a regionally based, non-profit organisation focussing on conservation services. The Great Southern Development Commission and the City of Albany helped fund the production of the guide.
The booklet will be sold through a variety of venues in the region including visitor centres, newsagents and bookshops.
Premier's office - 9222 9475