Tourist boom year

By Dion Teasdale
TOURISM bosses in the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley are reporting a massive influx of visitors to the region.
Heads of the region’s visitor information centres said last week they had recorded a boom in visitation over the past 12 months.
Michael Axel, manager of Dandenong Ranges Tourism, said the visitor information centre in Ferntree Gully had recorded a 20 per cent increase in international visitors and accommodation bookings were up by 17 per cent compared to the same time last year.
“We’re seeing really strong growth overall at the moment. This is the biggest, healthiest increase we’ve seen in the last five years,” he said.
“I think the price of fuel is making short trips to places like the Dandenongs more attractive than travelling to places further afield.”
Margaret Baker, coordinator of the Yarra Valley Visitor Information Centre in Healesville, said there was a 28 per cent increase in the number of visitors to the valley compared to the same time last year.
“It’s absolutely extraordinary. We’ve had an enormous increase in accommodation bookings over the past six months,” she said.
Ms Baker said the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne in March were one reason for the upward trend.
“Since then we’ve seen amazing growth, particularly a tremendous increase in the number of international visitors coming to the region,” she said.
The news of a boom has coincided with the release of the latest international visitor figures by Tourism Research Australia.
The organisation reported that the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley experienced a 63 per cent increase in international overnight visitors in the six years to March 2006.
However, tourism is not booming in the Upper Yarra where visitor numbers have taken a significant nose-dive over the past 12 months.
Baden Berry, president of the Warburton Highway Tourism said visitor figures were up to 20 per cent down on the same time last year.
Mr Berry said the Upper Yarra’s lack of an iconic attraction such as the Puffing Billy or Healesville Sanctuary was a disadvantage, despite the region offering visitors some of the best scenery.
“What we’d like to see is a designated campaign for the Upper Yarra, perhaps showcasing the national parks, to help increase the profile of the beauty of the area,” he said.