The money spent improving and promoting the Savannah Way, which links Broome in Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland, appears to be paying off.
A significant increase in traffic along the 3,700 kilometre route has been reported this year and grey nomads are a major reason why.
Cape Crawford Tourism, which runs helicopter flights and other adventure activities in the Gulf of Carpenteria, says this season has been one of the best on record for visitor numbers and there has been a noticeable increase in grey nomad numbers.
“This region is very isolated and we haven’t had a lot of people coming through previously,” said the tourism company’s owner Sandra Schleter. “People are wanting to go to more isolated regions and experience the outback.”
They sure are, Sandra.
The ABC reports that it is the marketing of the Savannah Way, which links 15 national parks and five World Heritage areas, that is behind the growth in tourist numbers. In a year in which many outback areas have reported significant downturns in tourism visitors, the Savannah Way’s apparent success is indeed impressive.
As the route’s websites says travellers “can explore just a section or cross the continent enjoying its wide horizons, ancient gorges and abundant wildlife, connecting with Aboriginal and pioneer heritage in today’s friendly outback”.
