Official opening of inaugural Albany Maritime Fesitval

8/10/94

The Albany Maritime Festival will promote Albany as a major Western Australian and national centre for maritime heritage and encourage local community appreciation of Albany's maritime history, Housing Minister and Member for Albany Kevin Prince said today.

Representing the Premier at the official opening of the inaugural festival, Mr Prince said only Fremantle could rival Albany's claim to create a major maritime festival, Albany being the site of the first European settlement in Western Australia and arguably the State's most historic port.

"Albany's past is linked with the sea, as is its future," Mr Prince said.

"The town has a huge variety of maritime attractions, including Whaleworld, Aboriginal fish traps and a magnificent harbour - which I am pleased to see is being cleaned up, because Albany must ensure that it preserves its greatest asset.

"As the whales return people will focus more closely on the health of the harbour as it becomes even more important and an even greater source of pleasure, to tourists and locals alike."

Handing over a Government grant of $4,000 to the festival organisers, Mr Prince said festivals and special events such as the Albany Maritime Festival played an important role in building the tourist industry.

"Special events provide a focus for the promotion of the region, providing publicity both through people who come to visit the event and by making more people aware of the attractions of the region through publicity generated by the event itself," Mr Prince said.

"They can also stimulate travel outside the usual tourist season, when hospitality operators need business, so the Government is pleased to have been able to assist the enormous number of individuals and community groups who worked so hard on the festival with a modest contribution to the budget.

"It is a festival for locals and visitors alike to enjoy and one which I hope to see go from strength to strength in the future."

Media contact:  Tony Barker-May (09) 366 0300