The Great Ocean Road Communities Network (GORCN), of which AIDA was a founding member, organised a five-part webinar series looking at tourism along the Great Ocean Road, which streamed in late February and March. The series explored issues such as the tourism model we have, government agency policies that govern tourism along the road today and what a fresh ‘regenerative’ approach to tourism might bring.
While the event was primarily aimed at the local Great Ocean Road community as well as tourist operators and government agencies, there was also interest from several countries in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
There were over 300 registrations for the event. Links to the GORCN YouTube recordings can be found below:
SESSION 1: Anna Pollock and Corrina Dichiera, ‘The tourism model we have’
https://youtu.be/hA1oPuHgFqA
UK-based Anna Pollock, pioneer and thought leader in regenerative tourism, explored the globally dominant model of industrial ‘extractive’ tourism, based predominantly on satisfying transient visitors’ desires. In examining forecasts for global tourism’s growth, Anna considered impacts on complex fragile places and ecosystems, pressures and threats to local economies, and to the quality of life and social cohesion of affected communities. In light of the growing global polycrisis, she examined why a regenerative approach is needed, what is involved and how a change in paradigm/mindset will enable tourism and hospitality enterprises to thrive by contributing to the health and well-being of the destinations they serve.
Corrina Dichiera, President of the Kennett River Association, spoke about tourism impacts on the community and ecosystems of their hamlet on the Great Ocean Road, and the problems of adjusting to and regulating these.
SESSION 2: Dr Dianne Dredge and Lizzie Corke, ‘Tourism, principles and practice’
https://youtu.be/OqQ3xAaxqns
Dr Dianne Dredge, Managing Director, TourismCoLab, discussed regenerative tourism based on living systems as an alternative to market-driven ‘extractive’ tourism. Regenerative tourism emphasises the creation of restorative, resilient and sustainable relationships with host communities, places and ecosystems. Dr Dredge considered how regenerative tourism focuses on the unique characteristics and potentials of a place and its people.
Lizzie Corke OAM, the Chief Executive of Wildlife Wonders spoke of how Wildlife Wonders offers the opportunity to see Australia’s amazing animals living freely in a natural environment – just five minutes from Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road. Lizzie shared the story of Wildlife Wonders, and how they are making the transformation to a new tourism model.
SESSION 3: Liz Price and Joey Saunders, The Great Ocean Road (GOR) reimagined
https://youtu.be/sGz5XupEErI
Liz Price, General Manager Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORRT), looked at how tourism is transforming Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. She described its current state, and indicators and trends that suggest its future. She talked about the current economic and social benefits of tourism on the Great Ocean Road but also its negative impacts – including social disruption, degraded visitor experiences, heightened seasonal safety risks, economic instability, and ecological damage and loss. Liz then considered what a reimagined Great Ocean Road tourism might look like and talked about what is needed in order to create greater balance and resilience in the GOR tourism sector.
As an example of what is possible in regenerative tourism, Joey Saunders, Acting Manager of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, spoke about one of Australia’s great National Heritage landscapes. Budj Bim is recognised nationally and internationally as a special place that offers unique and authentic visitor experiences of a living Indigenous culture, a history and a landscape that does not exist anywhere else. Joey shared the tourism journey of Budj Bim and its foundation as a living system.
SESSION 4: Mirerva Holmes, Ruth Caldwell and Jodie Sizer, ‘From Tourism policy to practice – government agencies speak’
https://youtu.be/CgiTyFDo_Dc
Mirerva Holmes, Acting Director, Tourism Policy and Programs – Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions) (DJSIR)
Ruth Caldwell, Regional Director Barwon South West – Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)
Jodie Sizer, CEO, Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA)
How do public agencies align with each other and with communities on the GOR, as they develop and implement their tourism policies and action plans? In this session, representatives from relevant public agencies talked about their current and emerging strategies for the Great Ocean Road’s many tasks, including challenges of agency coordination, collaboration with stakeholders and communities, local business and service organisations, and different levels of government and society.
SESSION 5: Dr Dianne Dredge and other panel members, ‘From Rhetoric to Action’
https://youtu.be/YBv9PVjzp7E (audio recording only)
The panel comprised: Dr Peter Christoff: Convenor, GORCN; Dianne Dredge, Managing Director, The Tourism CoLab; Ruth Caldwell, Regional Director Barwon South West DEECA; Libby Mears, Chair, GORCAPA; Liz Price, General Manager GORRT
In a regenerative world, good stewardship involves understanding the interconnection and interdependence with the community in which it exists – conserving and restoring habitats, supporting a viable economy, developing local capacity and establishing stronger stewardship and tourism governance. Many of the opportunities, flaws, and threats for the GOR have been identified over many years in Master Plans and Destination Action Plans, local surveys and frameworks. There is much deep community knowledge. However, blockages stymie our progress. What are some of those blockages? What is needed to overcome such blockages this time? How do we collaborate to make that happen?
The panel session was introduced by the GORCN series Convenor Dr Peter Christoff and a brief commentary by Dr Dianne Dredge on a local community’s central role in tourism, the wellbeing of residents and tourism development being crafted at-one-with-nature. During the panel discussion, questions were taken from the GOR community and series participants, and were moderated by Dr Peter McPhee.
Charlotte Allen and Mary-Jane Gething