Two big weekends in the region have left business owners smiling, with Dubbo Regional Council estimating a tourist injection of $1.5 million.
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Four big events in the past fortnight - the Red Hot Summer Tour, Nitro Circus Live, the Wellington Vintage Fair and Swap Meet, and the Wellington Boot - have seen more than 20,000 people attend events, council’s city promotions and events supervisor Lana Willetts said.
With half of those people expected to have travelled to the area, Ms Willets said the visitor spend would have hit the $1.5 million mark.
Quality Inn Dubbo owner Kerrieanne Nichols said in the past few weekends, the city’s hotels had been overflowing with guests. Not only did she see an increase in the number of people staying, Ms Nichols said there had been a surge in those dining at the restaurant, and ordering room service.
It’s already a busy time of year for Sportspower, but Anthony Barnes said he too had noticed the streets were busier the past weekend.
Mr Barnes said he spoke to one customer who had travelled from Kempsey with his children to attend Nitro Circus and visit Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
“Even if the events we get into Dubbo don’t directly benefit me, it’ll benefit the staff in other places who will then spend money with me,” Mr Barnes said.
Ms Willetts said council was working hard to secure large events in the region.
With both Nitro Circus Live and the Red Hot Summer Tour, Ms Willetts said council “held the hands” of the organisers, showing them venues, providing assistance and making it as easy as possible for them to not only hold an event, but return the following year.
For already established events such as the Wellington Boot and the Vintage Fair, the city promotions and events supervisor said council aimed to boost numbers attending the events through marketing and promotion.
In the coming months, the region will host the Lake Burrendong Fishing Classic, which Ms Willetts said is expected to inject $912,000 into the economy and the NSW Touch Country Championships which will bring $217,000.
Council was also developing a strategy to actively pursue conferences and business events Ms Willetts said.
Ms Nichols said she took her hat off to council for its promotion of the city.