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Scouts bring boom |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jan 08 2007 at 7:41 AM |
Dated Jan 8th 2007 - Source
THE Scout Jamboree has brought a minor business boom for some Bendigo tourist businesses and services.
The 14,000 scouts and leaders attending the ten-day event at Elmore were expected to contribute millions to the regional economy at both the Field days site and when during frequent excursions to places like Bendigo.
Jamboree marketing director Andrew Taylor estimated the event would bring about $10.5 million into the local economy as well as providing employment for local tradespeople On-site catering outlets would provide valuable funding for 16 Elmore community organisations such as the football club, he said.
During the jamboree, off-site activities have also crowded the streets of Bendigo with the blue hatted troops of scouts who have proved a boon for local tourist attractions.
Bendigo's Discovery centre was forced to put its holiday program on hold in order to cater for three groups of 48 scouts every hour " Busy is an understatement," staff member Craig Kendall said.
He said they had to cater for up to 1000 scouts per day as well as increased holiday visitors.
Central Deborah Mine staff member Bill Earl said the mine had also been "very, very busy" with the scouts, who were enjoying mine tours and tram rides as some of their Bendigo activities.
Bendigo Motel association past president David Stewart said yesterday's Sunday open day had brought families to Bendigo, which was good news for accommodation businesses that were experiencing a quieter-than-average January.
"It hasn't been huge for accommodation," he said" But there 's no doubt about it, it has been tremendous fro Bendigo."
He said apart from visiting families, accommodation services had utilised the need for some of the 3000 scout leaders at the jamboree to get away from Elmore on their rest day and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Bendigo McDonald's is one food outlet that has put on extra staff to meet the hunger of the roaming scout groups.
"We have been very busy with the scouts, just like the rest of Bendigo," High Street store manager Inga McMillan said.
She said jamboree organisers had organised a voucher system with several other eateries in Bendigo and they were more than happy to cater for the hordes.
" The troupes of scouts have also been very well behaved and very clean."Bendigo Snowgum has also reported increased sales both at its Mitchell Street store and at a dedicated on-site shop "We have had a long and very strong association with the scouting movement and scouts are a big part of the business," Snowgum general manager Ross Elliott said.
"And Bendigo has long been one of our most successful stores."
Snowgum was formerly owned by the Scouts Australia, but as a private company continued to utilise the link and cater for the needs of young people as they equipped themselves for outdoor adventure he said.
On-site store manager Melissa McKenna said Snowgum had seen a huge increase in sales both at Elmore and Bendigo.
"Souvenirs have been very popular, particularly the water bottles because of the heat," she said
"Then there are other things like the knife fork spoon sets, which some of them have lost or misplaced."