Tourism boom fails Upper Yarra

By Dion Teasdale
TOURISM bosses in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges are reporting a massive influx of visitors to the region.
However, Upper Yarra tourism operators are experiencing a major decline in visitor numbers.
Heads of the region’s visitor information centres said last week they had recorded a boom in visitation over the past 12 months.
Margaret Baker, coordinator of the Yarra Valley Visitor Information Centre in Healesville, said the valley was 28 per cent up on numbers for 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.
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.
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 Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges 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 upto 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 Healesville Sanctuary or Puffing Billy 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.