Monday, February 13, 2012
Curves_back
The main tourist areas have not been heavily affected
Australia tourist areas reopen following bush fires
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

All major tourist areas in south-eastern Australia have now reopened to visitors following the forest fires that killed over 200 people last month. This weekend tourists were allowed back into the last of the National Parks to reopen, Wilsons Promontory, after it was deemed safe.

Tourism Victoria Regional Manager UK and Europe, Claire Golding, said: "All fires are now out or contained. Right now there's not one product from any mainstream brochure that's not up and running. We're getting massive support from both federal and state governments who are pumping AUS$10 million into the tourism sector."

Despite the scale of the fires, the main tourist areas have not been heavily affected. Fires skirted the outer edges of the Yarra Valley but left the vineyards of the valley floor unscathed. For more information on any business in the area, the website yarravalleynow.com.au has been set up to trace the recovery process.

In Daylesford, an area 60 miles north west of Melbourne popular with tourists looking for relaxation, spa treatments and gourmet food, visitors may see a small amount of fire-damaged ground but current heavy rains mean the 'green up' has already begun. Elsewhere, Golding claims visitors would need to divert purposely from their usual routes to find any evidence of the fires. In Wilsons Promontory, blazes ravaged 25,000 hectares of the park, and visitors were evacuated.

Touring trade marketing manager Ina Becker said: "The fire started at the north eastern end of the park. The evacuation was very well managed - we had a whole day to leave and there was no panic."

Despite the fact two thirds of the park was damaged, the tourist trails are within the unaffected third, enabling authorities to allow visitors back into the park. Yarra Valley and the Dandenongs Marketing project coordinator Tanaya  Preece said: "The rebuilding is already happening. Local people are pulling together and want to get the word out tourists that it is business as usual."

Tatiana Rokou - Wednesday, March 25, 2009
1 recommendation(s) , 271 print(s), 1379 views, 0 comment(s)
Recommend Print Comment
Bookmark this page: Bookmark
Related_articles
Red_dot
UAE tourist arrivals forecast to hit 9 million in 2012
Theodore Koumelis - Thursday, February 09, 2012
Red_dot
Chinese tourists are people, not just statistics
Tatiana Rokou - Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Red_dot
Greek travel market increased by 50% in comparison with last year
Vicky Karantzavelou - Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Red_dot
UK becomes third biggest European travel market
Vicky Karantzavelou - Monday, March 29, 2010
Red_dot
Londoners take off for international travel in 2010
Tatiana Rokou - Thursday, February 04, 2010
Red_dot
Hotels.com reports Irish increasingly seeking the sun in winter
Vicky Karantzavelou - Thursday, January 21, 2010
Red_dot
International visitation in the US up one percent in October 2009
Tatiana Rokou - Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Red_dot
80% of the Romanian tourists spent their holiday inbound in 2009
Tatiana Rokou - Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Red_dot
Strength of Euro helps grow Belfast tourism
Vicky Karantzavelou - Tuesday, July 07, 2009