Talks about 'station stay' tourism options with Murchison/Gascoyne pastoralists

28/7/94

Pastoralists in the Murchison and Gascoyne will this week have the chance to investigate the possibility of diversifying into tourism.

The Department of Agriculture's farm tourism development officer, Garry Palmer, and the President of the Farm and Country Holidays Association (WA), Tony Jenour, and Roger Jaensch, the diversification officer based at the Carnarvon office, have been holding a series of station stay meetings with pastoralists.

The tour is a result of a $4,000 sponsorship by Primary Industry Minister Monty House after discussions with pastoralists in May and his recognition of the need for assistance to develop station tourism enterprises.

"The farm and station tourism industry is still at an embryonic stage but has shown good potential for pastoralists to diversify into an alternative industry," Mr House said.

"For many pastoralists, this diversification is one way to ride out the impact of low wool prices and poor seasonal conditions."

Mr Palmer is discussing with pastoralists issues such as industry development and marketing strategies, the establishment of a directory of all the farm and station stay businesses in Western Australia, and a newsletter to go to all operators.

He is also discussing how to tap into market areas such as the backpacker trade, international tourism and better co-ordination of booking systems to facilitate interstate and overseas group bookings.

An aim of this initiative is to establish operator groups representing the pastoral tourism industry in the Murchison, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions.

Meetings have been held with the Mid-West Tourism Group at Cue and with pastoralists at Wooleen Station in the Murchison.

Further meetings are being held with pastoralists in Carnarvon, the Gascoyne Development Commission and tourism committees.

Mr House said Mr Palmer would be organising meetings with pastoralists in the Pilbara in August.

Media contact: Will Henwood (09) 481 2044 or pager 480 5325

Garry Palmer; Carnarvon (099) 41 0111,  Perth (09) 368 3747

Tony Jenour (097) 26 3012