Tourism Council $500k threatens impartiality: Hodson-Thomas

The Tourism Council of Western Australia has welcomed a state government allocation of $500,000 over three years to fund National Tourism Accreditation Program certification, but the state opposition isn't so sure.

The Funding will allow the Tourism Council to extend its offering to include holiday homes and the cruise market, in addition to previous substantial funding provided for improving visitor servicing and adventure tourism services.

Tourism Council WA chief executive Ron Buckey released an announcement today thanking the government.

"The Premier is a key supporter of the tourism industry and once again it is extremely gratifying to see this government backing up their policies with real funding increases."

Despite also welcoming the funding increase, shadow tourism Minister Katie Hodson-Thomas has questioned the Tourism Council's future impartiality.

Ms Hodson-Thomas said it concerned her that the peak tourism group responsible for lobbying Government in WA would now also be responsible for tourism accreditation.

She said her concerns also extended to industry claims that suggested the Tourism Council was experiencing financial problems and dwindling membership numbers.

"As a result the Premier effectively has to assist the Tourism Council but, in the process, is compromising their independence," Ms Hodson-Thomas said.

"The Premier's direct funding of the Tourism Council effectively makes that body a government department in charge of accreditation.

"How is the Tourism Council going to question the Minister's effectiveness if they are directly funded by the government?

"Tourism accreditation is extremely important but so is the industry's right to question and lobby government.

"At the very least, its members and the wider tourism industry should be clearly aware that the Tourism Council of WA is now directly funded by the State Government," she said.