WA Labor Candidate for Geraldton, Lara Dalton today said she was surprised and disappointed at the Premier’s recent comments about focussing his Government’s tourism efforts on the CBD.

Ms Dalton said that while she recognised Perth had much to offer, the tourism experience would be better served by also highlighting the many fabulous attractions outside the metropolitan area.

“I have worked in the tourism and hospitality industry for many years and know how valuable tourist dollars can be to local businesses.

“I would have thought our Government dollars would be much more wisely spent on promoting our great state as a holiday destination rather than just the Perth city centre,” Ms Dalton said.

Ms Dalton said that Geraldton and its hinterland had many wonderful attractions including the Abrolhos Islands and the Batavia story, Aboriginal heritage and art, cultural tourism, Greenough historical buildings as well as the beautiful beaches and carpets of spring wildflowers that draw so many visitors to the region.

“Geraldton is also home to the newly renovated Regional Art Gallery which hosts many wonderful travelling exhibitions, the WA Maritime Museum, the HMAS Sydney Memorial and the many amazing churches designed by Monsignor Hawes, forming a heritage trail of architectural significance.”

“Our region is well serviced with excellent accommodation facilities for travellers on every budget.

“It is also blessed with much natural beauty with our rivers, the unique Moresby ranges, the magnificent Kalbarri National Park just up the road and many other scenic areas along our beautiful coastline,” Ms Dalton said.

“It saddens me that the Liberal/National Government is not looking beyond the horizon and instead is focussing very narrowly on greater Perth.”

Ms Dalton said she would like to invite the Premier to spend a few of days in Geraldton and the Mid-West so that he could see first-hand exactly what this regional centre has to offer.

“I would be happy to show the Premier these many attractions which also include our world class foreshore, made possible due to the support of the local community and the Gallop Labor Government.

“Mr Premier, tourism is an important component of future growth of the regional centres like Geraldton.”