Edward J. Watling

Edward J. Watling is a founding Partner and Executive Director of the firm tourism Co-ordinates, a company providing a full range of services to the tourism industry and catering for the needs of both private and public sector clients.

Mr. Watling has more than 29 years experience in the tourism industry, a high proportion of which has been served in the Government area.

After 13 years in the Western Australian tourism authority he was, in 1984, appointed the inaugural General Manager of the Western Australian Tourism Commission. Subsequently Mr. Watling worked as Tourism Consultant to the Minister for Tourism for a 6 years period before starting his own tourism consultancy business (Edward J. Watling and Associates) in 1993.

In 1994 he became a founding Partner and Director of the Perth based firm Tourism Co-ordinates.

Mr. Watling is a member of the Australian Society of Accountants and his many professional tourism affiliations currently include:

• Director, Australian Tourism Research Institute
• Member, Department of Conservation & Land Management Tourism Industry Reference Group
• Deputy Chairman, Department of Transport Commercial Passenger Vessels Advisory Committee
• Life Member, PATA WA Chapter

Mr. Watling has also just completed a term as an Executive Board Member and the Treasurer of the Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation.

Mr. Watling's particular areas of expertise include:

• study co-ordination;
• project feasibility studies;
  
• regional development planning;
• market analysis and market attraction planning;
• information gathering and interview and consultation techniques;
• marketing and public relations;
• event initiation and management;
• cultural tourism;
• development plans.
• program funding and budgeting