Families attending a junior rugby carnival have helped contribute to a massive tourism weekend for Orange.
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Orange360 general manager Caddie Marshall said winery cellar doors reported business was up by 30-40 per cent over the Queens Birthday long weekend compared to the same period last year.
Ms Marshall said virtually all of the 2000 tourism beds available in the region were full last weekend.
"I have even had Airbnb [customers] coming up this weekend because they couldn't get in over the last weekend," she said.
It was a great weekend for Orange. There were lots of families.
- Caddie Marshall, Orange360 general manager
Ms Marshall said the spin-offs had extended to the Orange Ex-Services' Club which had reported it was busy over the weekend.
"It was a great weekend for Orange. There were lots of families," she said.
Much of the influx was due to Orange hosting the 2019 Positive Rugby Foundation Under 14 Boys NSW State Championship.
The major event attracted young players and their families from all over NSW and the ACT.
Heifer Station Wines sales and operations manager James Thomas said many rugby families visited the winery's cellar door between games over the weekend.
Mr Thomas said the winery revenue was up by 30-40 per cent compared to the same weekend last year.
"I think the rugby carnival brought a lot of families in," he said.
"The Heifer Station cellar door is really geared up for families.
"The unseasonal weather [particularly on Sunday] meant people were able to sit outside and we could accommodate them," he said.
Ms Marshall said the tourism boom was also felt across the Orange, Cabonne and Blayney council areas which make up the Orange360 area.
"There wasn't a bed left at Millthorpe," she said.
Ms Marshall said Orange360 had run a tourism campaign promoting Orange for a long-weekend escape from last month.
They had also run a social media campaign aimed at the 28-34 year age group market.
The campaigns had principally targeted potential tourists from Sydney and Canberra.
Ms Marshall said Orange360 was unable to place a total dollar figure on the tourism boost but said it would be significant for the region.
"It was an amazing weekend with lots of visitors," she said.
The boom weekend comes as Orange360 has launched plans for the second annual Winter Fire Festival which will takes place from August 2-4 across the region.
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
