Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Ian Taylor today announced the appointment of Fred Riebeling, Member for Ashburton, to head a new tourism development committee for the Pilbara.
"The establishment of the Pilbara tourism development committee will give the Pilbara a real opportunity to make the region one of the prime tourist destinations in this State," Mr Taylor said.
He said Fred Riebeling was well-qualified to head the committee, having pursued many initiatives in tourism development during his years in the Pilbara, particularly as Roebourne Shire president.
"The committee will focus on developing a comprehensive tourism strategy for the Pilbara, looking at issues such as transport, infrastructure, cost structure, marketing and forward planning," Mr Taylor said.
The Pilbara Development Commission will provide staff and resources to assist the committee in its work.
Mr Taylor said the Pilbara had some world-class tourism attractions, such as the Karijini National Park and the Dampier Archipelago, and could tap into a fast-growing eco-tourism market by promoting its attractive wilderness areas.
"The Pilbara tourism development committee will continue the good work of Pilbara 21 in identifying and promoting growth industries for the Pilbara region," the Minister said.
"The Pilbara has always had the potential for tourism development, but now we are giving it the resources to turn that potential into a reality."
