Veteran Geelong tourism leader to retire

Experienced tourism leader Roger Grant has announced his intention to retire as Executive Director Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine.

Grant has served in his regional tourism role since 1993, when he took on the role as the inaugural Executive Director of the former Geelong Otway Tourism.

For more than 25 years, Grant has been at the forefront of the transition of Geelong from a tourism sub-region of the Great Ocean Road into a recognisable stand-alone destination.

In 1993 there were less than 240,000 overnight visitors to the Barwon region, which took in Geelong, the Bellarine, Surf Coast and part of the Otways.

The first scheduled passenger flights out of Avalon Airport were also still two years away.

Grant would be on that debut service in 1995, when Hazelton Airlines flew a small 36-seat SAAB to Sydney. He would later be among the local leaders to celebrate Air Asia’s debut international passenger flight to Avalon from Kuala Lumpur in December 2018.

The rise and rise of the Greater Geelong and the Bellarine as its own unique location saw it recognised by the Victorian Government as one of the state’s 12 distinct regions in 2015.

The local visitor economy now supports more than 11,200 jobs in the region, with 5.8 million visitors annually.

While Grant will continue in his role for several months, the recruitment process for his successor will begin with an advertising campaign now underway.

Looking back on his career, Grant stated “(this) has been a fantastic role. When I began this job I never imagined working in it for so long. But I have worked with an incredibly talented and dedicated team, which has been strongly supported by our partnerships with the City and industry.

“It is also an indication of the stunning region we live in.

“It has been a pleasure to be a part of the transition of Geelong, which has really matured as its own destination.”

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine is a member-based organisation that operates with the backing of the City of Greater Geelong, Golden Plains Shire and the Borough of Queenscliffe.

Grant will begin his retirement as of July 2019.

Image: Roger Grant.