Travelers argue physical visitor centres still vital as many shut down

As digital tools dominate travel planning, road-trippers like Alex Murrie say in-person visitor information centres still offer unique local guidance, even as sites such as Tully’s centre close for financial reasons.

Digital navigation and AI-generated itineraries have reduced the number of road-trippers stopping at visitor information centres, yet many travellers argue these hubs still deliver personalized recommendations that online sources cannot match. Alex Murrie, travelling around Australia in a van called The Loaf, says the yellow “i” signs in towns often lead to locals who suggest off-the-beaten-path attractions. In North Queensland, the Tully visitor centre will close from August after Cassowary Coast Tourism executive Patrick Bluett reported that only about 6 % of regional visitors used the service, with costs of roughly $240,000 a year proving unsustainable without council backing.

Earlier, Eurobodalla Shire Council shut the Batemans Bay centre in 2021, reallocating savings to broader marketing and off-season events, a move now praised by mayor Mathew Hatcher. Studies cited by program manager Wayne Clift show that centres can boost regional spend, with a 2023 Western Australian review linking centre visits to $150 higher per-tourist spending and $261 million total. While about 15 Queensland centres have closed in the past decade, hybrid models that blend physical services with online engagement are being explored as a way to keep the concept relevant.