Business Commons^™

Visitor Centers, Collaboration, And The Role Of Local Food And Beverage As Regional Tourism Development Tools: The Case Of The Blackwood River Valley In Western Australia, Abel Alonso, Y Liu

Abel D Alonso

Past research highlights the importance of collaboration as a critical element in the development of regional tourism. In this context of collaborative relationships, the role of visitor centers in promoting and in raising awareness of existing tourism-related activities, including those with a food and beverage theme is vital. The present study examines the extent to which visitor centers in an emerging tourist destination with a farming background, the Blackwood River Valley in Western Australia, use these tools to develop their local tourism. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among representatives of four visitor centers. Respondents acknowledge much collaboration (as opposed to competition), …