Orange City Council Business Development Manager Ian Laidlaw, who is responsible for tourism and economic development in Orange, says that accommodation in Orange is almost booked out for the Australian National Field Days this week, adding that virtually all motels and hotels in Orange were booked out, as were most bed and breakfasts and self-contained units within 10 to 15 minutes of Orange.
He added, “This is a national event so it raises the profile of Cabonne and Orange substantially and it definitely brings a large increase in visitors to our area, also providing a significant increase in spending locally with accommodation and restaurants.”
The Country Comfort’s owner/manager Darryn Mendham said that their 50 rooms are booked out from Monday to Friday adding that accommodation for the field days was usually booked 12 months in advance. “We’ve got people coming from all over NSW and Queensland and from all over Australia.” “Petrol prices haven’t slowed us at all and we were fully booked for the Bathurst races as well.”
The Australian National Field Days starts today at Borenore and is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors and 600 exhibitors, with the field days being officially opened on Tuesday at noon by the consol-general of India, because India is this year’s guest nation.
Entry is $15 for adults, $8 for children and $40 for families.
Report by The Mole
