Motohiro Suzuki, one of the Assistant Directors at the Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR, Sydney) completed his study tour at the Barossa Council in South Australia on February 19. The study tour was made possible by former Barossa Deputy Mayor Scotty Milne J.P. who kindly introduced Motohiro to Barossa CEO Martin McCarthy after he expressed his desire to learn more about the Barossa.
Mr. McCarthy, gave Motohiro a quick tour of the council and then proceeded to give him an overview of the council with Organisational Development Manager, Mr. Vincent Marsland. Motohiro also had the opportunity to visit the Barossa Information Centre where he met with Manager Ms. Jo Seabrook who provided him with some information on tourism in the Barossa and the Cycle Hub.
During his week-long study tour, Motohiro also visited Tourism Barossa to meet with Ms. Cathy Wills and The Barossa Grape and Wine Association to meet with Mr. James March, CEO and some wineries to learn more about wine tourism in the region. Motohiro learnt a lot about wine tourism and hopes to use the information obtained to further promote the Hokkaido prefecture and its venture into the wine industry. Motohiro notes the interesting approach taken by the Barossa in managing their wine tourism industry, that is not to strive for an over-expanded industry but to focus on stability and strengths.
Motohiro also interviewed directors and department managers at the Barossa Council to learn about the many roles of council.
He’d like to take this opportunity once again to thank Mr. Martin McCarthy, Mr. James March, Ms. Cathy Wills and all the lovely staff members from the Barossa city council who accommodated him on the day.
It’s been a wonderful and informative experience for him. He greatly appreciates the hospitality shown to him by those he met during the study tour. The knowledge he has gained from this study tour will greatly benefit his home prefecture of Hokkaido.
