Tourism fall ‘doesn’t ring true’

By Dion Teasdale
WARBURTON Highway tourist operators are at odds with the State Opposition over claims of a massive drop in visitor numbers to the Upper Yarra area.
Warburton Highway Tourism Association president, Baden Berry has described State Opposition claims of a 24.3 per cent decrease in visitor numbers to the area as ‘suspicious’ and ‘excessive’.
Earlier this month Opposition spokesperson for tourism Martin Dixon accused the Bracks Government of failing to take responsibility for a downturn in tourism across the state.
Mr Dixon said tourism figures produced by Tourism Research Australia revealed a 9.3 per cent decrease in tourism throughout country Victoria and a massive 24.3 per cent downturn in the Upper Yarra.
“In the period between 1999 and 2004, the number of overnight and day visitors to the Upper Yarra have plummeted by 24.3 per cent,” he said.
“Upper Yarra has plenty to offer visitors, but the region has clearly been neglected by the Bracks Government.”
However, Mr Berry said the Tourism Research Australia figures quoted by Mr Dixon did not offer an accurate reflection of visitation to the Upper Yarra.
“I think we need to treat these figures with suspicion,” he said.
“They don’t ring true for our area and the type of accommodation offered in the Upper Yarra.
“The figures released are only for accommodation providers with 15 rooms and above, and most accommodation providers in the Upper Yarra are smaller than that.”
Mr Berry said it was true many tourism operators experienced some downturn after events such as the attacks on the World Trade Centre on 11 September, 2001.
“However, things have improved since then,” he said.
“Operators are saying how things are turning around, and we are seeing an increase in numbers at the moment.
“Claims of 24.3 per cent drop are excessive and not an accurate representation of what is happening in the Upper Yarra.”
While dismissing Mr Dixon’s visitor statistics, Mr Berry said he would encourage the State Government to contribute more resources to tourism operators in the Upper Yarra.
Mr Berry said he would like to see the small tourism operators of the Upper Yarra have better representation on the region’s peak tourism body, Destination Yarra Valley Dandenong Ranges.