Doorknockers to quiz Margaret River and Busselton residents on future of tourism

If you hear a knock on the door in the next few weeks, it could be from someone hoping you are free to have a chat about tourism.

The Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association has engaged independent research partners who will conduct door-to-door interviews with residents as part of the region’s peak tourism group’s look into the complexities of living in a leading holiday destination.

While the Margaret River economy relies on tourism and the visitors it brings, MRBTA has increasingly noted and sought to offset some of the unintended negative consequences of the industry.

The survey in partnership with Verian Group and Thinkfield will canvass residents from Busselton to Augusta on their views about how tourism affects their everyday life.

The doorstep surveys would mostly run during the next four weeks, MRBTA chief executive Sharna Kearney said.

“We believe that in a region like ours, tourism is everyone’s business,” she said.

“Everyone who lives here is part of the local visitor economy, regardless of the type of business they work in.

“Part of our remit as an independent body and local tourism organisation is to help ensure that visitors enjoy the best possible experience and that the community gains maximum benefit from tourism.”

MRBTA consults with members but this would be its first time directly seeking the views of residents.

“While we work closely with our 700 members, the feedback we receive from locals is largely anecdotal and is fragmented across local groups and online forums,” Ms Kearney said.

“This survey will help us to build a reliable picture of how current tourism activity aligns with local values and of how the community views the outcomes it delivers.”

The findings will guide MRBTA in its future decisions and be communicated back to State and Federal government agencies, decision-makers and the broader community.

Some surveying may also occur in more centralised settings, while residents will also be quizzed on their understanding of MRBTA’s role in managing tourism, local attractions and delivering visitor experiences.

Ms Kearney said the group’s goal was to build a reliable picture of the community’s perceptions of tourism, the extent it aligned with local values and how much residents engaged in tourism-related activities.