THERE’S bad news for tourism operators. Families are travelling less and often spending less than in previous years, the NRMA has said.
However, there’s some good news, according to the motorists’ lobby group. Local tourism operators have an unprecedented chance to market the local area to local travellers.
A new NRMA study on holidays and petrol prices shows more people are opting out of long-distance road trips and holidaying closer to home.
The NRMA surveyed 1300 drivers who said they would spend up to $500 less on family holidays.
The Nationals’ leader Andrew Stoner and Tamworth-based Nationals MLC Trevor Khan yesterday said the State Government had a responsibility to promote tourism in the Tamworth region.
“People in regional towns are already struggling under the increased cost of living,” Mr Stoner said.
“With the economy in the middle of a major downturn since the end of last year, the last thing that the people of the Tamworth region need is a reduction in tourism.”
“Regional NSW accounts for two-thirds of the State’s holiday and leisure market but receives only five per cent of the total budget to promote itself,” Mr Khan said.
“Major centres here such as Tamworth, Gunnedah and Nundle are only getting a fraction of around $3 million to promote themselves from the total tourism budget of around $56 million.
“The Iemma Government needs to act on a key recommendation from the O’Neill report, which recommended $21.1million specifically allocated to regional tourism in 2008-09.”
NRMA motoring and services director Graham Blight said the survey had been conducted in response to rising petrol prices.
“The good news was 93 per cent said they would still have their holidays. Not many would cancel them,” Mr Blight told The Leader.
“Of those, 61 per cent said they wouldn’t travel as far from home as they normally do.
“Most people are going to travel less distances, which gives us an opportunity to promote local attractions.
“In the little bit of information we’ve got, this seems to be a not uncommon trend.
“Everybody would be starting to think the same.
“We’ll be promoting internal travel, and for country people why not shift to another country town.”
The NRMA was reporting unleaded petrol to be an average of 159.8 cents per litre in Tamworth. Diesel was an average of 181.7 cents per litre.