7643 Invest_web (PDF - 2.0 MB) - City of Greater Geelong

INVEST GEELONG - SMART THINKING
Industry Strengths
TOURISM
Tourism is an important driver of economic
development across the Geelong Region.
Geelong is an ideal location for tourism investment
given its vast array of natural and cultural
attractions, diversified tourism and hospitality
workforce, extensive infrastructure, proximity to
Avalon Airport and accessibility to the large
Melbourne metropolitan market less than one hour
away. Geelong has a proven track record in
attracting large scale events and conferences such
as the Australian International Airshow, Skandia
Geelong (Australia’s largest keelboat regatta),
rounds of the National Triathlon Championship
and the multi-cultural Pako Festa.
The Region’s peak tourism body, Geelong Otway
Tourism, reports that each year six million visitors
make their way to the Region which includes the
world famous Great Ocean Road, Geelong
Waterfront, Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast, Lorne
and Apollo Bay (3 million day visitors, 3 million
overnight visitors and 30,000 international visitors).
Tourism contributes $478m into the local economy
and accounts for over 4,200 direct local jobs.
The Region is the fastest growing destination in
Australia for overseas visitors and its proximity
to Melbourne makes it an ideal short-break
destination for the Metropolitan market.
Geelong has a significant conference market which
contributes an estimated $55.8m in expenditure
to the local market. The Region captures 29 per
cent of the regional Victorian day meetings market
and 13 per cent of the regional overnight meetings
market. The City of Greater Geelong and Geelong
Otway Tourism are currently investigating options
for the development of a Geelong Exhibition and
Convention Centre along Waterfront Geelong.
Design elements include a 1,500 seat convention
centre, exhibition space, car parking and
accommodation provided by a four and a half star
international standard hotel.
The establishment of a base for Qantas off-shoot
airline Jetstar at Avalon Airport only 20 minutes
from Geelong has been a major asset for the
Region. Avalon is fast becoming one of Australia’s
top ten airports in terms of annual passenger
traffic, and recently welcomed its millionth
passenger since starting in June 2004.
Future plans for Avalon by Jetstar include the
airport becoming a base for international short
haul flights.
INVEST GEELONG - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CITY OF GREATER GEELONG
13