Western Australia’s potential to create jobs and revitalise regional economies by developing specialised trail towns will be the focus of a forum held today in Collie.
Key decision makers from government, the not-for-profit sector and businesses will come together to discuss how Western Australia can capitalise on the growing trails industry to boost regional tourism and create jobs.
Trail towns are population centres connected to circular trail networks that allow visitors to pass through unique natural landscapes before returning to town, helping to secure more trade for local hotels, bars, restaurants and other small businesses.
Around the world, trail towns have been successful in revitalising regional towns, creating jobs, and boosting local tourism.
The forum will consider potential locations for Western Australian trail towns, including Collie and Dwellingup, and will feature demonstrations on successful trail town case studies from Australia and the world.
The forum is part of the ongoing work set out in the Western Australian Strategic Trails Blueprint 2017-2021.