Kevin Williams - Tourism NSW

Kevin Williams is a consultant, appointed by Tourism NSW, conducting Sydney's Inner West Tourism Study. Kevin is constructing a three year plan for Tourism in seven Local Government Areas (L.G.A.) who are acting in partnership with the G.R.O.W. Employment Council with funding from the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business. He believes the success of his project depends on grass-roots organisations like the M.G.O. With their cooperation Kevin hopes to have real structures in place with working strategies

Kevin has picked up on a cultural change within Tourism N.S.W. to pick up on local flavour - do what the local's do - and so he has began by defining the unique local characteristics of the area defined by the seven participating L.G.A.s. These "inherent strengths" include:

• ethnic diversity and multicultural character.
• vibrant arts and cultural focus
• harbourside location
• established eat streets and precincts (conglomerations of interests as opposed to L.G.A.s.)
• accessibility to both Sydney C.B.D. and homebush Bay
• Heritage and Local Character.

What is Kevin's role?

Kevin is bringing the significance of our industry to the attention of the L.G.A. bodies. We laughed when he recounted how he was directed to Engineering when he asked for Community Services in Ashfield. His Tourism Industry Plan is intrinsically linked to Community Services Development and so he has found his role to be one of an educator at the council level, eg. he is about to address Drymoyne Council for the first time on these issues.

Council's role in supporting in tourism includes decisions made on signage, by laws, landscaping and public art programmes.

Kevin clarified that tourism doesn't only mean backpackers and discerning interstate visitors but also includes the visiting friends and relatives (V.F.R.) market, in fact, anyone who comes from at least 40 km away and stays overnight - a definition that goes some way to explaining all of those "must stay overnight" deals one can get, which leads us to consider, where do gallery operators fit into this scenario?

Some of benefits of his work are that;

• projects that we define to be to our communal benefit can be put forward as developed in step with L.G.A. long term plans.
• We can also benefit from the research conducted through this project to find support groups for various exhibitions and projects and tie in with promotional campaigns surrounding festivals and other cultural events. eg. awareness of Carnivale will enable us to tie in with their programming of events.
• A brochure for hotel/conferences might now include an arts along with places to visit.
• concurrent involvement within the entertainment precinct.
• Might lead to the setting up of arts centres that reflect the cultural character of the area.
• Dialogue with local chamber of commerce will be available.
• Thinking laterally, a register of local artists might be established by L.G.A. councils.

In the course of his investigations, and our own, opportunities have become apparent which lead to the development of other projects, eg. there is scope for a small business initiative in a small bus run around the galleries.

Kevin (Sydney Scenes) is conducting the second stage of this 12 month project. The first stage was carried out by Dain Simpson and Associates and "undertook an audit and review of the tourism industry as it exists today". Kevin is prioritizing issues "to ensure that industry opportunities and labour force development are matched. He will develop product, establish networks and management structures and identify issues that will need to be reviewed and resolved as well as opportunities for new partnerships and funding.

His three year plan will be delivered by June. In the mean time he hopes to host workshops for which we will all be receiving questionnaires by mid-March or April. The workshops are not only to develop a great by-line like "How the West was Won" but also to work shop how to best implement his proposed strategies.

Kevin would like to see the appointment of a Regional Coordinator - Tourism Officers Position to manage the process.

Kevin is available to us in his capacity as Tourism N.S.W. Consultant until the end of May. (9810 9974)