More money will be spent on Tasmania’s winter Off Season promotion

The state government and the tourism industry say a rethink of winter tourism is now needed.

Dark MOFO 2023Thousands of people watched Ogoh-ogoh go up in flames at Dark Park on Sunday evening. Thousands of people watched the procession of Ogoh-ogoh before he was sacrificed in flames at Dark Park.

The state government and the tourism industry are pledging to redouble their efforts on winter tourism to fill the $20 million hole left by the Dark Mofo pause.

Premier and Tourism Minister Jeremy Rockliff reiterated the state government’s strong backing of Dark Mofo following news the festival won’t be held in 2024.

The state government struck a new $7.5m three-year funding agreement with Dark Mofo in 2024.

Mr Rockliff said the government was keen to support Dark Mofo’s two major drawcards, the nude solstice swim and the winter feast, to continue in 2024.

“We understand Dark Mofo’s need for a smaller event in 2024 as they reshape the festival for the future, and we will continue to work closely with them on their plans when the full event returns in 2025,” he said.

“David Walsh contributes so much to Tasmania, and we will continue our partnership with him and his team to deliver Dark Mofo into the future.”

Dark MOFO 2023Thousands of people watched Ogoh-ogoh go up in flames at Dark Park on Sunday evening. Thousands of people watched the procession of Ogoh-ogoh before he was sacrificed in flames at Dark Park.

The state government has contributed funding to the festival since it began in 2013.

Dark Mofo injects an estimated $20m into the Tasmanian visitor economy each year.

To offset the tourism impacts, Mr Rockliff said the state government would significantly increase its investment in the Off Season winter promotion program.

“We are also working on a strategic airline partnership to drive bookings to the Tasmania in the Off Season, and we are investing an additional $1.8 million over three years into Tasmania’s Business Events Attraction Fund to attract more business events and conferences, with an immediate focus on winter 2024,” Mr Rockliff said.

Touirsm Industry Council CEO Amy Hills said it was important the festival was set up for success to ensure it remained part of Tasmania’s winter for many more years to come.

“What this means is that Government and industry are going to have to work even harder to

encourage visitation to Tasmania over winter,” Ms Hills said.

“The TICT wants to work with Government, including Tourism Tasmania and Events Tasmania, to deliver a dedicated strategy to drive demand next winter, following today’s announcement.

“This will need to include looking at our existing winter festivals and how they might be expanded, other opportunities to attract new events to the state, as well as working with airlines to promote travel to Tasmania.

“Industry will do its bit by ensuring it offers unique and winter -based experiences and offers. We would also call on the Government to allocate additional funding to support events and

demand generation for next year’s winter period.”

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Destination Southern Tasmania CEO Alex Heroys said Dark Mofo had been the state’s guiding cultural light for the past ten years.

“I know I speak on behalf of thousands and thousands of Tasmanians who could not be more grateful to the team at Dark Lab and David Walsh himself for delivering the past 10 years of Dark Mofo,” Mr Heroys said.

“It is understandable that they need some time to reset and plan for the future.”

Mr Heroys welcomed the continuation of the nude swim and winter feast.

Tasmanian Hospitality Association CEO Steve Old said Dark Mofo had been a game changer for Tasmania, helping to keep hospitality venues ticking over during the tourism off-season.

“It is great that the Winter Feast and Nude Solstice Swim remain on the calendar for 2024, these two events are among the biggest drawcards of the Dark Mofo experience and their popularity continues to grow year on year,” Mr Old said.

“While the pausing of the wider festivities might be seen as a blow, what it will allow is the Government, the THA, Tourism Tasmania and TICT to work together to invest in other areas across the broader industry to ensure the state is still attracting visitors in our off season.”

The festival contributes and estimated $20m to the Tasmanian economy annually.

Originally published as More money will be spent on Tasmania’s winter Off Season promotion