The fundraising campaign is a small gesture of appreciation for brigades who have been fighting fires in the Blue Mountains region since November — and to support ongoing firefighting efforts. Under advice from the NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Scenic World temporarily closed as a precautionary measure from 2–6 December, due to the Ruined Castle Fire.
Being Australia’s most visited privately owned tourist attraction, the temporary closure created a major downturn in visitation to the Blue Mountains and created a knock-on economic impact for local businesses who rely on tourism.
Scenic World reopened on December 7, but instead of ramping up to the peak season of Christmas and the new year, December has started in a quieter fashion than expected for Blue Mountains tourism.
It’s hoped that the reopening of businesses, popular lookouts and walks will bring vibrancy back into the industry.
Scenic World’s Managing Director Anthea Hammon, has been thankful to the Rural Fire Service who helped expediate the attraction’s reopening. “Over the last few weeks I’ve been extremely grateful for the level of support and protection that Scenic World and the Blue Mountains community has received from local emergency services. This fundraising opportunity allows us to welcome back visitors to Scenic World and give back to our local emergency services,” she said.
The Blue Mountains community is all too familiar with the devastation caused by bushfires, the lasting impacts for the community and businesses was evident in 2013.
Tourism is the second largest employer in the Blue Mountains and impacts to the industry have detrimental knock-on effects to local employment. President of the Blue Mountains Tourism Association (BMATA) and Managing Director of Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, Jason Cronshaw, remains positive that the region can bounce back quickly.
“The beauty of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains makes it a favourite destination over the Christmas school holidays for Australians and internationals alike, we look forward to welcoming visitors this Summer.”
“Our tourism community is resilient and I am proud that we can come together to support our local emergceny services who ensure that our community and visitors remain safe,” he said. Visitors to the Blue Mounains this weekend of Saturday 21 to Sunday 22 December, can support the following tourism businesses who are participating in raising donations to Blue Mountains RFS brigades:
- Scenic World – $2 from every ticket sold
- Blue Mountains Explorer Bus – $2 from every ticket sold
- The Carrington Hotel – $10 per room booked, $1 per food and drink order.
- Hotel Mountain Heritage and Falls Mountain Retreat Wentworth Falls – 10% from all direct bookings.
- Equeva Group’s Metropole Hotel, Heritage Motel, Town Centre Motel, Discovery Motel & Echo Point Village – $10 from every hotel booking
- Kurrara Historic Guest House – $10 for each booking
- No. 14 Lovel Street Hostel – $2 for each booking
- Escarpment Group’s Lilianfels Resort & Spa, Echoes Boutique Hotel, Parklands Country Gardens & Lodges and the Hydro Majestic Hotel – $10 from every hotel booking, $2 per high tea.
In addition and as a further thank you to local emergency services, from 13 January–26 January Scenic World and Blue Mountains Explorer Bus will be offering free entry to all members and their famillies of Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service and Fire and Resuce Brigades, and fire crews from National Parks and Wildlife Services.
“We know it may be a challenging fire season for local crews, we hope to offer some respite for our firefighters to enjoy a day off relaxing with their famillies at Scenic World and Explorer Bus,” Anthea Hammon concluded. For more information, visit Scenicworld.com.au/event/thank-you-rural-fire-service.
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