It’s no secret that Mudgee region is the new ‘must-visit’ destination for weekenders, especially after receiving the position as number one ‘Foodie Destination in Australia’ according to bookings.com.
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But it’s also no secret that the region struggles under the pressure of popular weekends.
Accommodation is usually booked out months in advance for weekend events including the recent Small Farm Field Days and the upcoming A Day On The Green.
So what can the region do to solve this dilemma?
Booking website stayz.com.au is pushing short-term rental accommodation – claiming the economic benefits for a region such as Mudgee is huge.
In NSW, short-term rental accommodation provided an economic lift of nearly $2.128 billion to the NSW economy and supported 13,983 jobs in the State.
In Central NSW, short-term rental accommodation generated over $24.9 million in economic uplift and supported up to 169 jobs in the region. In 2016, 33,035 room nights were booked in short-term rental accommodation across Central NSW, generating $5.9 million in revenue for hosts.
Stayz Corporate Affairs Director, Jordan Condo said: “Short-term rentals have been an Australian holiday tradition for many years and rental platforms such as Stayz have helped facilitate and expand this pastime to the benefit of towns and cities across Australia.
“This report confirms that short-term rental accommodation is a key driver of tourism, job-creation and economic activity across Central NSW.
“Towns and cities like Mudgee, Bathurst, Dubbo, and Orange are all benefiting from the growing popularity of short-term rental accommodation.
“Tourism has always been a key part of the Central NSW’s economy, and short-term rental accommodation is increasingly part of the area’s tourism success story – provided regulation does not limit the availability of this accommodation option.
“Regional jobs, regional income and regional economic growth will suffer if regulations limit the availability of short-term rentals in NSW,” Mr Condo concluded.
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FARM STAY: RYLSTONE
Janet Walk from Camphill Cottage in Rylstone has jumped on the short-stays bandwagon, as a way of increasing income during hard-times on the farm.
“In drought, there is still something sustaining the community,” she said.
“Farm-stays can help sustain the economy through the ravages of droughts, bushfires and market fluctuations in stock.
But Mrs Walk said the personal economic benefits are just the start.
“Because people are doing up accommodation, the whole town looks beautiful, you drive past these houses, and they look immaculate.
“It’s not just about commercial, it’s about that confidence in the area, it’s about the love of the area.
“When I came 20 years ago the town was dead on Sunday; it’s alive now.
“People aren’t just coming for a hotel experience.”
SYDNEY GUEST EXPERIENCE
Camphill Cottage guest Ryan Lieper agrees short-term stays are about the experience. His young family chose the location for the experience.
“It’s great to get the kids out into the fresh air and the countryside.
“Because we live in the city, it’s great for the girls to experience what it’s like to live in the country and it’s more homely. You can buy local produce, buy local wines and just enjoy the experience.
The Rylstone stay was the second short-term rental for the Lieper family, last year they chose Orange.
“It’s better than a hotel, you’ve got the freedom and flexibility to do what you want and experience different things, as well as the flexibility to decide if you want to dine out or stay in,” he said.
