Check-in on surf safety

30.04.2010

SPOT checks on hotels, motels and
backpackers may be the only way
to ensure surf safety information is
displayed for tourists.
Member for Southport Peter Lawlor,
who is also Tourism Minister,
said policing accommodation "places
on the Gold Coast could be the key
to getting the beach safety message
to more tourists.
"We will have to follow up with
them and police them," he said.
This follows reports that many
Coast hotels, motels and hostels are
not displaying the surf safety information
and could be leaving themselves
open to legal action.
The Bulletin checked 10 accommodation
houses in Surfers Paradise
and found only four were displaying
surf safety pamphlets.
Queensland Hotels Association
communications manager Keri
Crompton said one of the barriers to
spreading the surf safety message
was the reluctance of the tourism
industry to pass on any information
that could scare their guests.
"Not wanting to look at things like
this is always an issue," she said.
"But we see hotels can play a
major role in keeping tourists safe
and the QHA has been involved in
pushing that for a long time."
Gold Coast Tourism boss Martin
Winter said it was important for the
industry to be aware of how much
damage a drowning death could
have on business.
"When someone drowns here it is
devastating for their family and
friends," said Mr Winter.
"But it also has a significant financial
impact on the Gold Coast
economy"
Mr Winter backed calls to educate
the accommodation industry about
its legal responsibilities to tell tourists
about beach dangers after Marine
Tourism Australia executive
Jeff Wilks highlighted the risks
of litigation.
"We would encourage members to
attend any information sessions
about it," he said.
"Gold Coast Tourism would
actively support it and promote it."
A spokesman for Mr Lawlor said
educating the accommodation
places about legal responsibilities to
tourists was not the role of his office.