Just 11 per cent willing to visit bushfire-affected tourist areas

A new website has been launched to draw fearful tourists back to bushfire-ravaged towns ready for visitors again after a study revealed just 11 per cent of people were willing to visit.

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Tourists are too scared and confused to holiday in bushfire ravaged towns, even though they would like to help revive crippled local economies.

Two landmark surveys from peak tourism and business industry groups have revealed holiday-makers still hold serious reservations about visiting bushfire affected towns, with most citing “safety” and “transportation access” as their chief concerns.

A police officer prepares to flee his roadblock on the Princes Highway near Sussex Inlet on New Year’s Eve. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

In a bid to dispel confusion and allay tourists’ concerns, the state government will today launch a new “Go Regional” website that will list the towns and tourism operators throughout regional NSW that are ready to host visitors again.

According to a NSW Business Chamber poll of more than 1300 people, 53 per cent of holiday-makers who had plans to visit a bushfire-affected area cancelled their trips and a further 14 per cent are still considering cancelling.

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Asked why people cancelled their trips on account of bushfires, tourists cited safety as their biggest worry (74%), followed by road closures (73%), the potential for tourist operators to cancel on them (70%), general stress and uncertainty (66%), power outages (65%) and patchy mobile phone reception (64%).

Naomi Lavery from Orange was one of thousands of people who evacuated Bermagui in January. Picture Gary Ramage

While the overwhelming majority of would-be tourists would consider visiting a bushfire-affected holiday destination in the future, just 11 per cent of respondents are willing to visit immediately.

“What is really important is that, in the messaging sent out about the recovery and the towns that are reopened for business, issues such as safety and transport access are addressed to ease immediate concerns,” NSW Business Chamber Chief Executive Stephen Cartwright said.

“Two thirds of respondents revealed that they had either cancelled, or were thinking about cancelling upcoming travel as a result of the bushfires.

“Not only does that have an incredible financial impact on businesses right now, but it also has a dramatic effect on their long term sustainability.”

Margy Osmond from the Tourism & Transport Forum wants would-be tourists to act on their goodwill towards bushfire-affected towns.

A separate survey by the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) found overwhelming goodwill towards bushfire-ravaged towns, but an overriding unwillingness to visit.

Of those who intend to take a domestic holiday this year, 74 per cent were unlikely to travel to a bushfire affected holiday spot.

“People aren’t certain whether it is safe, what the air quality is like and where they can travel to,” TTF CEO Margy Osmond said.

“That’s why these government campaigns are on the money, because they are focused on giving people information so they can check the facts and be reassured it is safe to go to the likes of the Eat Merimbula Festival in March, the Four Winds festival in Bermagui over Easter or the Narooma Oyster Festival in May.

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“Those people who have said they are happy to holiday in Australia, well that’s all well and good, but now is the time to put that sentiment of helping fire ravaged communities into action.”

Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said Go Regional, building on the success of Buy Regional, will be a one-stop shop website for visitors who want to support regional towns and small businesses who are doing it tough.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro meets victims and survivors of the bushfires in Cobargo.

“Christmas holiday-makers did the right thing by vacating the south coast region at the height of the New Year bushfire emergency but it’s time for people to start making bookings and return, eat, drink and be merry to help these towns get back on their feet,” Mr Barilaro said.

“Many north coast businesses and local attractions have had their doors open for some time now, following the devastating fires in November, but owners are telling me customer numbers remain very low, because visitors are not sure if they are welcome.

“Donations are appreciated but the best thing people can do is take a holiday or a weekend trip to a regional or rural town and get local cash registers ringing, book a motel room, sample local produce, feast at local cafes and restaurants, buy drinks from local stores.”

Business owners are urged to register on the Go Regional website.

Originally published as Just 11 per cent willing to visit bushfire-affected tourist areas