New figures from the state’s peak tourism body say around one million people visited the Orange, Cabonne and Blayney regions over a 12-month period.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Destination NSW has crunched the numbers and revealed 1,079,000 people visited the region between July 2015 and June 2016.
Visitors came here for the Orange Wine Festival and Orange FOOD Week as well as sporting contests, Eisteddfods and to catch up with friends and family.
The value of those million visitors to the regional economy is $269 million, an increase of $51 million from the previous year.
The numbers were revealed during a recent industry workshop held by Destination NSW for tourism and hospitality operators.
Brand Orange chairman Peter Robson said he was excited to see Destination NSW’s figures showed there’d been a substantial increase in the number of visitors to the region between the year ended June 2015 and June 2016.
“It puts us (the region) in the lead of regional towns west of the mountains,” Mr Robson said.
The figures show an increase of 195,000 visitors from the previous year ending June 2015. Mr Robson said food and wine events were just part of the attraction for visitors.
“They’re very important, they’re beacons for what we do. Increasingly, we’re seen as an engaging place to visit,” he said
“We’ve got the best hospital west of the mountains and great cultural events at the gallery, theatre and museum. There’s beautiful areas to cycle around, and over 1000 people in the Conservatorium of Music.”
However, Orange’s features were just part of the visitor numbers, Mr Robson said.
“(Surrounding) villages play an important role, as an example, go to Millthorpe on the weekend and see it in action,” he said. “The accommodation and hospitality sectors are as good as it gets in regional Australia.”
However, Mr Robson warned the region could not “stand still” when it came to attracting new visitors, linking the numbers to the push for a industry-led tourism body, a joint-venture between Orange City Council and Brand Orange.
“We must look to the future, we need to have all tourism functions integrated. Everything has to come under one body,” he said.
Mr Robson said wine and food festivals were only one way of attracting visitors, there were countless other activities designed by the tourism industry to bring people to the region.
“(The tourism) industry has direct contact with the people living here, visiting here and investing here. Whether it’s a cellar door, hotel or an AirBnB,” he said.
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
