Tourism Planning Taskforce Report - Western Australian Planning ...

Chapter 2State tourist accommodation industrysuit the needs of an identified marketsegment. Tourists are interested in staying inaccommodation that reflects the values andattributes of the surrounding area. Touristseeking a nature-based experience wantsmall-scale, single-storey accommodation thatdoes not harm nature and fits in with itssurroundings.There also is a trend towards apartment styleaccommodation as opposed to the typicalhotel room. This is part of a national trendtowards serviced apartments that providelarger living and work areas, where busyexecutives also can bring their families. Theseapartments usually are rated at four to fourand half stars (AAA Tourism self cateringapartment category).Due to distance, poor access and the highcost of providing facilities, there is a shortageof accommodation in many of the State’s keynature-based tourism areas. Suchaccommodation bottlenecks also can have aflow-on effect to other tourism destinations inthe area. For example, a shortage ofcoach-standard accommodation in FitzroyCrossing resulted in a national coachcompany cancelling an around-Australia tour,disadvantaging other Western Australianlocalities the tour was scheduled to visit.AmenitiesAmenities are basic services that provide forthe needs of tourists at a destination.Examples include:• shops with shopping hours expected of atourist destination;• sufficient parking bays for self-drivetourists;• public transport to local attractions andeasily understood timetables,• sufficient public rubbish bins during thetourist season;• restaurants and cafes with a high standardof service and flexibility in their menus;• central tourism information centre andtourism information widely available inhotels and shops and at attractions;• public telecommunication facilities;• clear directional signs; and• well-maintained public toilets.Many of these amenities are services providedby local government to its ratepayers and, ahigh degree of co-ordination is needed toensure that tourism use of such facilities doesnot compromise the local community, and theresentment of tourists is avoided.ActivitiesActivities undertaken at a destination may beactive, such as diving and whitewater rafting,or they may be passive, such as relaxing on abeach. Feedback from visitors to the State isthat many want more things to do.Development by the tourism industry of arange of visitor activities needs to be anurgent priority. Of particular importance areactivities that provide nature-based andcultural tourism experiences.In investigating and responding to the terms ofreference the taskforce has taken into accountthe five “As” of tourism. However, its terms ofreference clearly are focused on theaccommodation sector with the need toprovide a framework that will encouragedevelopment of the right facilities for asustainable tourism industry.2.3 Trends in touristaccommodationIn establishing the taskforce, the Minister wasconcerned with trends in thedevelopment/tourism industry to seek to mixtourist and permanent residentialaccommodation within a single developmenton tourist zoned land. The increasing use ofstrata schemes for tourism developments andits potential adverse impact on their ongoingoperation also required review.The investigations of the taskforce haveconfirmed that these trends are significant inthe tourist accommodation/developmentindustry, with strata schemes being used as afinancial mechanism in the majority of mediumand large-scale developments. It also is clearthat in many cases, these trends, andassociated legislative requirements, areinfluencing the style of accommodation andthe management structures under which theyoperate. This in turn is affecting the tourismexperience available in the developments, with12 Tourism Planning Taskforce Report