Backlash to triple Schoolies proposal

Exclusive - 1.20pm Sunday 2 Dec 2012

Airlie Beach Accommodation operators are 'up in arms' with a Director of Tourism Whitsundays  (WMD) and his proposal to triple the Schoolies period from five days to two weeks. Several of the Accommodation operators expressing concerns about the proposal accommodate Schoolies themselves.

Jeff Aquilina, Managing Director of 'at Hotel Group' (and coincidentally the largest operator  accommodating Schoolies), is also a Director of Whitsunday Marketing and Development (WMD - ex Tourism Whitsundays). It was 'under this hat' that he has officially proposed to Whitsunday Councillor Jan Clifford, to triple the Schoolies period, without consulting other Accommodation operators, Tourism operators, Local Traders, Schoolies Volunteers, Police, Residents and the wider community.

It appears Mr Aquilina hasn't given much thought to the many Schoolies Volunteers who already spend a massive amount of their own time (and some, their own resources) who will have to either more than triple the amount of time they volunteer, or more than triple the number of volunteeers, or both, so an Accommodation operator can have some more rooms filled.

Many Whitsundays (not just Airlie Beach) Accommodation operators are concerned about the proposal that has been put forward by Mr Aquilina as a Director of Tourism Whitsundays - WMD to Councillor Clifford without their consultation. Here are some of their thoughts:

Accommodation operators who have just recently (and reluctantly) renewed their membership with Tourism Whitsundays - WMD after being told that "things would change", are aghast that this proposal was submitted without consultation with the membership in advance.

The Accommodation operators are that concerned about the continued alleged 'misuse of power' by Directors of WMD - Tourism Whitsundays, that they have sought a meeting with the Whitsunday Council Mayor to express their concerns.

Tourism Whitsundays is now fighting two fronts in it's war with Airlie Beach Traders and Operators and the possibility of a rival Tourism Organization tearing away and focusing on Airlie Beach and the Mainland is a high possibility. It is likely that an Airlie Beach organization would have many more members than Tourism Whitsundays and therefore more likely to receive the majority of tourism funds allocated for the region.

There is talk that Mr Aquilina's resignations and distancing himself from Tourism Whitsundays - WMD would be a positive start to healing the wounds between Airlie Beach and the Regional Tourism Organization.

Related Stories:
Tourism Whitsundays Director pushes for 2 weeks of Schoolies
Whitsundays Police request shorter Schoolies accommodation deals
Tourism Whitsundays Strategic Advisory Group - Election Results
Still major disunity within Tourism Whitsundays
Tourism Whitsundays Massive Fraud