Pics: by Nic Fitzgerald
Tasmania’s peak tourism body said today the raging success of the second Dark MOFO Festival has again shown that when Tasmania delivers outstanding events, local and visitors will embrace them in droves.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania today congratulated MONA and particularly the producers of the Winter Fest for delivering potentially the most outstanding food and wine festival in Australia, and a week of activities and events that captured the imagination of the Tasmanian public and delivered a windfall for local tourism and hospitality businesses.
“In just two years, Dark MOFO, along with the Festival of Voices, has turned on its head the perception that Tasmania is a place that hibernates over the depth of winter,” Mr Luke Martin said.
“Rather than being shy about our climate, these outstanding events embrace our status as a cool climate destination offering world-class art, cultural and food experiences, in a spectacular and exhilarating natural environment.”
“The exciting challenge over the next few years is to build on this momentum and look at ways to engage regional Tasmania in the visitor activity generating out of Hobart.”
“Getting visitors to consider Tasmania as a winter destination is the first challenge, and these events are on the right track towards achieving this, but the next challenge is to encourage these visitors to get out and explore all our State has to offer.”
Mr Martin said Dark MOFO also showed that Tasmania should aspire to deliver first-rate events, and that visitors and local are willing to support them.
‘The success of the Winter Fest was indicative in the fact that Tasmanians were willing to line up for hours in the cold to get in to the venue.”
“Expanding this event to provide additional capacity to cope with this demand without compromising what was a sensational celebration of Tasmania produce and cuisine will be the big challenge for the event organisers leading up to next year.
“The Winter Fest has unquestionably raised the bar in the way Tasmanian utilises and celebrates our fantastic produce and producers.”
Mr Martin urged tourism operators and Tasmanians to keep the enthusiasm and engagement up for the exciting Festival of Voices in coming weeks.
