THE modern use of smartphone apps and services have been blamed for the axing of an award-winning visitors information centre on Frankston’s foreshore.
Councillors voted behind closed doors after this month’s public council meeting held on Monday 16 October to close the Frankston Visitor Information Centre, located near Frankston pier, and open a new tourism information service in central Frankston.
The Frankston Visitor Information Centre was inducted into the Australian Tourism Awards national hall of fame in 2015 after three consecutive gold award wins.
A statement from Frankston mayor Cr Brian Cunial said tourists now rely on looking at visitor information online amid the growth of services including short-term lodging app airbnb and online tourism portal TripAdvisor.
“For council’s visitor services to remain relevant and helpful to our community and visitors, it is important that we change how we deliver some aspects of our service,” Cr Cunial said.
The mayor said the visitors centre move to central Frankston will include a focus on offering more digital information to tourists.
“By relocating to the heart of the city, visitor services will be embedded as a welcoming hub for greeting visitors and residents, and support dispersal to local business within walking distance of the transit interchange.”
He said council will seek other uses for the existing Visitor Information Centre building on the foreshore “with a focus on water-based activities and experiences”.
The new visitor information service in central Frankston will open in mid-2018.
1 Comment
Wondered why frankston information services was having a meeting st my work the other day. Must be something to do with this