A simple message written across a photo of drought-stricken Queensland and shared on social media has struck a chord with grey nomads, and is lifting visitor numbers in struggling Outback communities.
When Longreach photographer, Debbie Scott, created the image with the slogan “stay a night, spend a dollar” she could never have imagined the impact it would have. The message quickly spread across social media and has now been viewed tens of thousands of times.
Ms Scott told the ABC that visiting grey nomads had said seeing the social media post had convinced them to buy refreshments out, rather than staying in their caravan.
“Business has picked up in the last couple of weeks, and I think tourists are looking to help drought-affected towns,” she said. “They still want to come out and have a look and, if everyone thinks like that, then you can feel like you are personally helping out small businesses.”
The Outback Queensland Tourism Association (OQTA) said it supported any measures to get visitors out west, and that all of the region’s natural and man-made attractions were in full swing despite the drought conditions.
I think most aussie grey nomads included will help out a place that invites us to camp and enjoy there town will spend a quid or two there
a visit to the local can be entertaining also with stories of the past about the area.
just enjoy
We love this concept and always try to pay back any community that offers us a freedom camp that’s acceptable. Right now we are in Wyandra. We are just going to a devonshire tea at the local store and have already booked dinner at the pub for tonight. However a couple of days ago we got to Tambo, supposedly RV friendlly, we thought what a pleasent little town, the 2 hotels, both looked good. We had a beer in the tavern, checked out the supermarket and thought we will stay but after looking at the freedom camp located in a rock pile so far out of town that it’s unlikley that anyone will ever walk to town for a meal, we decided against that and moved on. If these towns claim to be RV friendly they need to lift their game a bit.