IT’s good to see Orange City Council continue its ongoing support for Taste Orange.
Last week council staff recommenced the marketing organisation be given an additional funding boost of $81,384 in recognition of the important role it plays in marketing the city and the flow-on financial benefits those marketing efforts bring.
Council estimates the four key events on Taste Orange’s calender bring a minimum of 12,000 overnight visitors to Orange every year, with these visitors staying a total of 30,000 nights a year, equating to millions of dollars spent on accommodation alone.
These overnight visitors spend an estimated $206 a day on a range of different goods and services ranging from meals out, to new clothes or winery visits.
In these tough economic times, the retail and hospitality industries can do with the extra influx of consumers so every effort should be given to support the work Taste Orange does in drawing people to the region.
However, despite the economic benefits to the community, a lack of resources means Taste Orange is increasingly being forced to rely on the kindness of its many volunteers to help it continue to stage these events.
Over the years as events have grown more successful, the expectations placed on our volunteers has also grown, making it increasingly difficult for them to juggle their volunteering commitments with their personal and professional lives.
Lets hope the additional funding will help ease just a little of the pressure placed on Taste Orange and, in turn, its volunteers.