The ‘desperate need’ for investment at the Great Ocean Road for Victoria’s top regional tourist hot spot

The Great Ocean Road would receive a huge injection of funds by the federal government to upgrade tourist facilities in a move that has been welcomed by the community who say the area is in “desperate need” of more investment.

The area and the famous 12 Apostles are the number one tourist attraction in regional Victoria, according to Tourism Research Australia.

In the year to March 2018, 2.7 million people visited the tourist attraction, one million of those overseas visitors.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be at the 12 Apostles today, where it is expected he will announce a multi-million dollar upgrade.

Chair of Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Wayne Kayler-Thomson told Neil Mitchell the 12 Apostles were in “desperate need” of better facilities.

“The visitor experience, as you’ve outlined is not up to standard,” he said.

“We get over 2 million visitors a year, it’s growing exponentially and yet all we have is a viewing platform, great congestion, no visitor facilities and no story being told about what people are visiting there.

“The whole experience can be improved greatly, this will be a great start.”

He welcomed the news a visitor experience centre would be built at the 12 Apostles, in the next few years.

“On a busy day there’s 15,000 people there,” he said.

I thought it needed an enormous amount of work. It is a terrific spot, we just need to exploit more – Neil Mitchell

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