Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism has released its figures for the June–August quarter and the results are pleasing.

Statistics collected from the Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism Monitoring program which has been collecting tourism data for more than 10 years, show a marked increase in visitation, cellar door sales and restaurant and café trade over this traditionally volatile period.

According to the tourism monitor, the combined accommodation occupancy figures for June, July and August were 10.5%, 34.5% and 8.7% respectively with the small to medium sized businesses fairing the best.

Similarly, the cellar door sales figures tracked the same growth path with positive growth of 32.4%, 25.9% and 29.1% over the same period.

Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Montague said that while the June 2007 floods produced an unprecedented downturn in visitation over the ensuing months of July and August 2007, Hunter Valley Wine Country has been enjoying increases in visitation, occupancy and general trade for a number of years despite the downward trend in domestic travel.

“As the peak tourism body for the Hunter Valley, we monitor these things very closely and with increases in visitation over the past several years continuing, we will continue to do what we do best and that is to get the name Hunter Valley out into the market place. That is our primary role and we are pleased with the results”.

Stimulating these positive results are a number of marketing campaigns and initiatives supported by the tourism organisation.

Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism Marketing Manager, Hiedi Duckworth, suggested that whilst many businesses were now under greater financial pressure due to the current economic conditions, pooling funds and marketing co-operatively under the Hunter Valley Tourism banner is the preferred strategy and one most likely to generate results.