Proposed tourism merger could save $600k

The planned merger between the region’s two tourism groups should result in a saving of about $600,000 within three years, according to its advocates.

Executives of the Augusta-Margaret River and Geographe Bay tourism associations held a series of town hall meetings with members across the region on Tuesday about the recent decision to support the merger.

AMRTA chairman Ross Ashton said projections for the merger put the associations in a “strong financial position”, with $600,000 available for investment in destination marketing by year three of the amalgamation and about $1 million available for capital investment in 2016.

The two boards of the associations have green-lit a special meeting on November 5 to vote on formation of the amalgamated Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association from July 1, 2016.

AMRTA chief executive Pip Close said the move stemmed from member dissatisfaction with duplication and confusion in the market between the two bodies.

Under a merger, the AMRTA and GBTA would cease to exist as anything but legal entities and their approximately 100 staff would represent one streamlined regional identity.

Ms Close said there would be no increase to membership fees under the merger and a benefit to the about 250 members paying duplicate memberships. “Assets will be retained under the two organisations with a new (local tourism organisation) over that, ” she said.

Ms Close said the new business would be a not-for-profit, membership-based entity retaining operation of the region’s two lighthouses and five caves, and would continue to operate the airport ground handling at Busselton.

The organisation would have no formal headquarters, though its chief executive, Ms Close would be based in Margaret River.

The MRBTA board would have an independent chair not affiliated with either existing tourism entity, and there would be no staff changes until mid-2015, Ms Close said.

“Overall, there will be an increase in staff, ” she said.

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