Your thoughts required re FREE ACCOMODATION.
Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 20:47
ThreadID:
11305
Views:
2191
Replies:
11
FollowUps:
4
This Thread has been Archived
Dave Q
Got to take my ideas on tourism for our town to a meeting.
Now the facts are:
Our town has plenty in the way of tourism (some opal mining,
art gallery, shearing sheep, farmstay, fishing etc ).
Both towns either side of us (
Charleville &
Windorah) have established names/activities etc.
Most people travelling through here are going to
Birdsville or
Innamincka.
One dicussion I had tonight revolved around free accomodation.
I am interested in your thoughts on what attracts you to a town!!
If you are travelling WITH a schedule would you stop for free accomodation even though your schedule is upset
OR
do you leave
home with a rough plan and FREE will help.
I know this is a basic request and many other factors are to be considered but just looking for ideas.
Thought people that travel the outback would be best to ask.
ANY IDEAS APPRECIATED.
Thanks
Reply By: Willem - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 21:49
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 21:49
Mitchell in Queensland used to offer the first night
free camping in the Council Caravan Park and even the self contained units were free for one night. The idea behind this is that travellers may stay a second night or more. We have stopped there for a couple of days and used the spa facilities and had an enjoyable stay. Further north
Aramac also has such an idea but the facilities were rather rudimentary. If travellers stop in a town they will spend money in that town somewhere, that is the bonus for the town. There are lots of other free campimg area in Queensland especially along the Burnett Highway close to towns.
If you know there is
free camping available then you would most likely make that town a scheduled stop on your journey.
AnswerID:
50600
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 22:18
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 22:18
Free accom may work... Free showers, and stuff for people who are in the middle of it all..
But I think its people plan their trips to see "THE BIG" things.. So if your in between 2 of them, or a days drive, they wont stop no matter what. You need to have a UFO landing, or BigFoot, or like that island on the news, they have a DINOSAUR on the loose, people are already flocking there...
Maybe naked women serving drinks, or dinner?
Shame really I'd stop there... I like the
places away from the crowds, people bleep me
too easy, and I dont really trust many people...
AnswerID:
50607
Reply By: Member - JEFF - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 07:25
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 07:25
Dave,
I can imagine this is a big problem for a small town to tackle. Years ago I used to operate my own business. You have to treat the town as "your own business". I found the best way to get work for "my own business" was to...... ADVERTISE But of course you have to have something to advertise about. You said you have Opal mining close by and Fishing and Sheep Shearing. I would look at these things or something a little different to attract people to your place.
At the end of the day you must advertise, advertise and advertise again. My experience is that this is not a short term exercise, you will spend lots of money on advertising and it will be for little gain ...Initially, but eventually you will start to WIN, I assume the Council will be putting up the money, if so they will of course need to agree to a long term committment. If you do this, hit the big cities in the print media this is where the disposable incomes are. Its no good advertising locally just because it's cheap. Let me give you an example... I tuned into the local South Coast (of
Sydney) T.V. station just the other day ," Prime" I think it was. The commercial that came on was "visit the south coast, come to our lovely beaches" They were only advertising to the "locals", sure they were picking up the
Sydney fringe area ,but they should have place the ad in the
Sydney area, Do you get my drift Dave??
Anyway I know I'm rabbiting on but I thought it may be of some interest.
Best of luck
Jeff
AnswerID:
50643
Follow Up By: Member - JEFF - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 07:36
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 07:36
PS Dave,
I dont think
free camping will do it for you alone Think of it as buying a lettuce from the ten different fruit shops, One of the ten will sell you the lettuce in a crispy cellophane bag which will garrantee freshness for 2 weeks and there are two types of lettuce in the bag all at the same price!!! Which one would you buy ???
,
Jeff
FollowupID:
312418