WITH artists from Ballarat and around the world to take to the stage at Spilt Milk Music Festival tomorrow, the event is set to bring a positive economic impact to the region.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s event was estimated to have contributed $5 million to the Ballarat economy which is three times what is usually spent on a Saturday.<\/p>\n
Local accommodation options are almost full and 10,000 extra tickets have been sold this year, meaning organisers are expecting an even greater economic impact.<\/p>\n
Owner of Sovereign Park Motor Inn and Tourism Midwest Victoria board member Tim Canny said he expects the weekend to bring great benefits to Ballarat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe extra 10,000 people is enormous. It\u2019s a lot more beds being sold and meals being sold,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re almost fully booked and it\u2019s been a very high demand weekend with a minimum of a two night stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Canny said businesses are learning from previous events how to maximise the benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the businesses are becoming a little wiser in capitalising on the demand and we are asking a two-night minimum stay and a lot of other places are doing that too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means you’re not only getting more for your business but all of Ballarat reaps those rewards as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Canny said the benefits of Spilt Milk far outweigh any perceived or actual negative impacts the event might have.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had really good experiences with past Spilt Milk events and they\u2019re all really good people, we\u2019ve had no issues whatsoever with the visitors that come,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a real minority of people in these big events that misbehave and do the wrong thing and it\u2019s a tiny percentage that shouldn\u2019t impact the success of the event.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WITH artists from Ballarat and around the world to take to the stage at Spilt Milk Music Festival tomorrow, the event is set to bring a positive economic impact to the region. Last year\u2019s event was estimated to have contributed $5 million to the Ballarat economy which is three times what is usually spent on […]<\/p>\n