Wine industry forums look at future training needs

21/5/99
Western Australia's growing wine tourism industry is the focus of a series of forums aimed at generating discussion within the industry on its future training needs.
Representatives of WA's wine tourism industry are invited to attend one of three forums to be held in Western Australia's major wine production areas over the next two weeks.
The first forum will be held at Sandalford Wines in Caversham on Monday, May 31, from 10am to 3pm.
Employment and Training Minister Graham Kierath said a draft report on Regional Wine Tourism in WA, commissioned by the Western Australian Department of Training, would be presented for comment and discussion at each forum.

The WA Wine Tourism Council initially approached the WA Department of Training with identified industry employment and training needs.
The report has been produced to create interest and discussion within the wine industry and its associated operators and to look specifically at future training needs for WA's wine tourism regions.
Mr Kierath said the report addressed the need for training in wine tourism and explored potential wine tourism employment opportunities.
"Wine tourism has emerged as a strong and growing industry in regional Australia, providing significant economic benefits," he said.
"The Bureau of Tourism Research reported that in 1996, 282,400 people from overseas visited wineries during their stay in Australia, a figure representing an increase of 20 per cent since 1993.
"In WA, the growth in the wine grape production was predicted to grow by 30 per cent from 1996-97 to 1998-99, a figure considerably in excess of the predicted national increase of 19 per cent.
"Although WA produces less than two per cent of the total amount of Australian wine, 20-25 per cent of the premium and ultra premium wine market are produced in this State."
Mr Kierath said the growing reputation of WA wines had provided the basis for significant tourism activity centered on the wine industry.
"The wine tourism industry is associated with activities such as cellar door sales, wine tours, food, hospitality and accommodation," he said.
"Wine tourism seems to be becoming an increasingly significant component of regional tourism in WA, with benefits both in terms of providing employment opportunities in regional areas and promoting wine districts and the premium wines that are produced.
"It is important to identify the current and future training needs for the wine tourism industry now, and these forums will provide a platform for industry representatives to have their say on the draft report and the future direction of such a promising and growing industry."

The second forum will be held in the Great Southern region at Goundrey's Vineyard on Wednesday, June 2. The third forum will be held in the South-West region at Leeuwin Estate of Friday, June 4.
Media contact: Steve Manchee (08) 9213 6400