Fremantle Tourism Association members Ryan Zaknich and Wendy O’ Shaughnessy. d426050
Camera IconFremantle Tourism Association members Ryan Zaknich and Wendy O’ Shaughnessy. d426050 Credit: Supplied/Martin Kennealey

Freo’s dash for cash

Staff ReporterFremantle Gazette

Fremantle Tourism Association chairman Ryan Zaknich said with a number of committee and projects focusing on Fremantle’s survival and future, there needed to be more emphasis put on improving and expanding on tourism in the area.

‘Tourism got its last big injection of cash and energy in 1987,’ he said.

‘The America’s Cup was a huge event and Fremantle received a lot of attention, but overall since then, despite some excellent additions to the landscape, there generally has been little capital injection and now is the time to lift its game again.’

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Mr Zaknich said the association was working with operators all over Fremantle to discuss what action was necessary to not only support and promote the area as a tourist destination, but also how different entities could cooperate to benefit themselves and tourism as a whole.

‘The importance of the existence of the group is that there is now a network and lines of communication between operators in Fremantle,’ he said.

‘In the short time it has existed, the amount of collaboration has been enormous.

‘Customer service can always do with some improvement, that is the easiest thing that everyone can do and it doesn’t cost anything to offer great customer service.’

Some ideas include the promotion of some of Fremantle’s hidden gems.

Despite almost all visitors to the area knowing to head to places like the prison and the markets, there were some parts of the city, such as South Fremantle, the West End and High Street, that needed a bit more publicity.

‘These are arguably some of the prettiest urban landscapes in Australia and recently there have been some great cafes and galleries appearing,’ he said.

Visit www.fremantletourismassociation.com.au for more information.