Phillip Island businesses and tourism leaders are calling for government support as the region prepares to host its final MotoGP later this month. Fresh ABC reporting describes a community looking beyond the race, which moves to Adelaide from 2027, towards new ways to attract visitors throughout the year.
Bass Coast Shire Council is seeking a targeted state support package to help local businesses and the community through the transition. The council says Phillip Island has hosted MotoGP continuously since 1997 and that the event has played an important role in its tourism, hospitality and retail sectors.
Destination Phillip Island chief executive Kim Storey told the ABC that the event had helped underpin business activity. “The MotoGP has provided that platform of security and the resource for businesses,” she said. The tourism organisation and council want government funding to help develop new events, rather than relying solely on the island's established motoring calendar.
The council's economic transition plan sets out six proposed support packages. Its events programme calls for a dedicated coordination fund to develop existing attractions and bring significant new events to the region from 2027 to 2030. The document favours multi-day events in quieter seasons that could encourage longer stays.
Ideas in the plan include expanding Ocean Sounds, developing the Island Whale Festival into a winter whale and wellness programme, and establishing a Festival of Motorsports. These are proposed directions for investment, not a list of newly funded events. Separate packages seek support for nature, wellness and eco-tourism marketing, alongside arts and cultural programming across Bass Coast.
The plan also seeks help for local tourism operators through digital capability, business development, accreditation and regenerative tourism initiatives. Investment in sports, recreation and events infrastructure is another proposed priority. The stated aim is to strengthen the region's ability to host events while improving the visitor experience and supporting local businesses beyond a single race weekend.
Transport is part of the proposed transition, too. The council document calls for an on-demand transport trial, improvements to ferry services and better access to water-based experiences at Cowes and Rhyll. It says public transport options from Melbourne are limited without a train line, making access and movement around the island part of its tourism investment case.
The push for a broader response predates this month's farewell race. In March reporting by the Sentinel-Times, Destination Phillip Island described the loss as a structural economic challenge that could not be solved by a short-term or single-event substitute. The council's plan says the regional partners are ready to work with the state government, but need clear commitments and a defined pathway forward.
