The Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP
Minister for Resources and Energy
Minister for Tourism
Senator Nichael Forshaw
Senator, New South Wales
Bondi Marine Discovery Centre will get a $57,000 boost to investigate new tourism marketing opportunities.
Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP and New South Wales Senator Michael Forshaw, today congratulated the Marine Discovery Centre and announced the Australian Government would be contributing $25,000 in tourism funding towards the project.
“The Australian Government is aware of the important role of Marine Discovery Centre in helping to educate visitors about the coastal underwater ecology and the need to preserve it for future generations,” Minister Ferguson said.
The funding from the TQUAL Grants program builds on a previous Australian Government investment of $420,000 to redevelop the centre.
Original funding contributed towards the construction of staged seating, new aquarium systems, and modern audiovisual for the new ‘Underwater Bondi Experience’, which allows visitors to experience a virtual dive site off North Bondi through an interactive multimedia presentation.
“The Bondi community has embraced the new attraction. Locals bring their friends and relatives to the Centre and make up almost 40 percent of visitors,” Minister Ferguson said.
“By matching the Centre with tour operators and market testing the product, the funding we are providing today will help expand the appeal of the Centre to eco-tourism and marine tourism enthusiasts from across Australia and around the world.”
Through the TQUAL Grants program the Australian Government is investing almost $8.3 million towards seventy innovative tourism projects across Australia. These targeted investments assist the industry to explore new market opportunities, expand the range of services they can offer, promote growth and contribute to job creation throughout the Australian tourism industry.
On a national level, the Australian Government is also investing in tourism marketing to support further growth in international and domestic tourism visitors through Tourism Australia’s global marketing campaign - ‘There’s Nothing Like Australia’.
”By running an international campaign using the internet, print, television and social media, the Australian Government is increasing Australia’s presence in international markets. We will be able to further visits numbers and spending for New South Wales and Australia,” Senator Forshaw said.
“The tourism industry has really got behind this campaign and now the Australian Government is providing opportunities to share in its success.”