And so, the ACT Government weeps and gnashes it’s well worn teeth about the deplorable state of tourism in the Territory, but can’t seem to get it’s head around what steps would be needed to improve Canberra’s failed image as a business and tourist destination.
Many quick and easy plans have been bandied about, but none seem to hit the mark on a sustainable tourism industry. It seems the Canberra tourism industry can’t seem to capture any particular market. There are plenty of venues and many interesting to the business tourist, but sustainable numbers are lacking.
The holy grail of Canberra events, Floriade, is becoming a bit on the nose and attending numbers are beginning to show a steady decline year after year. I’ve always felt the massively damaging attempt to charge admission to Floriade was the beginning of it’s end as a novelty venue. Subsequent enlightenment on the plummeting attendance numbers made the event free once again, but the damage was done. Another problem with the reliance on Floriade as a tourist attraction is the limited audience. Floriade works well for Australia’s ageing population and especially, the Gray Nomads. But there are several pieces of necessary infrastructure missing. The same missing pieces that stifles the tourism industry across the border in the Lake George region.
Canberra and the neighbouring region lack vision in how to cater to the many tourists who might find it an interesting area to explore. Not only do they lack vision, their fattened bureaucracy lacks the ability to allocate funding in the proper direction to fix the glaring problems they’ve allowed to fester.
First and foremost, the region needs a better system of public transport to allow the tourists to access the fine venues that already exist. A light rail has been proposed, but it will become a bureaucratic nightmare and will be far too limited in it’s network to be of any practical use. A better use of rail funding would be an automated monorail system, which in itself would be a tourist attraction. The Sydney Monorail System works well, but was created on a far too small scale to be of any real use. Canberra, on the other hand, is laid out perfectly for a monorail network that could service the City, Woden, Tuggeranong, Gungahlin, Belconnen, Molonglo and the Airport. No level crossings to disrupt vehicular traffic and the entire system could be timed and automated with minimal infrastructure changes to the city.
Click here to view Monorail Considerations
Northbourne Avenue, Limestone Drive, Belconnen Way, Adelaide Ave, Parkes Way, Canberra Ave, Tuggeranong Parkway just to mention a few of the possible routes a quiet, rubber wheeled monorail people mover could take. Joining major bus terminals would be easily planned and the ability to move tourists from one end of the city to the other and perhaps even into neighbouring New South Wales would fast and efficient.
Another missing piece of infrastructure is a place for the Gray Nomads to park their caravans and trailers, while still allowing them the ability to see the Nations Capital. One of the reasons Canberra is given a wide berth is the inability for Mum and Pop to be able to park their caravan and jump on a people mover to see the sights and sample the delights of Canberra.
If the infrastructure for a people mover existed, some sort of caravan park facility could be created on the outskirts of Canberra, perhaps near Exhibition Park, to cater for the Gray Nomad.
What about the Business Tourist? Well, there are plenty of hotels with exorbitant stay rates, but little or no reason to come to Canberra, unless you happen to be doing business with either the local or Federal Government. There are just no venues to attract the business person to Canberra. There isn’t a decent convention centre, there is no fine dining and there is no entertainment which might attract visitors to the city.
The ACT Government would have been wise to direct funding into an airport based Convention/Hotel facility, rather than allow a discount retail warehouse to use up valuable land area. Envision the conventioneer stepping off the aircraft to a people mover that takes him or her to the Airport Hotel with it’s adjoining travellator tunnel to the Airport Convention Centre.
Or perhaps stepping onto the automated monorail system that whisks them and their bags to one of the City based hotels, not far from a new and regulated restaurant and entertainment district.
Have you ever tried World of Warcraft?
Yes, I tried Warcraft but I wasn’t impressed a whole lot. It seemed a bit of overload for what it gave back in return.
At least with Secondlife, the psuedo-economy ($265L = $1US) allows you to make a few real dollars… My DJing on SL bought the driving lights for my bike. I can’t recall any other game so generous
If you want to try Secondlife, I can get you started down the right track without you having to spend too much time looking like a noob. Your Aunt has an AV (she had to be dragged in, kicking and screaming), but it looks more like your cousin.
For the thrill of the chase, I bring up an Infiltration server for a few friends of mine. The bots have the ability to learn your strategy and give a few surprises.
You might drop me a line and I’ll point you to the website where you can D/L the game & scenarios for either instance. You might even let me know how you’re going these days. Soon to be “Old Girl”…
So you can earn real money through it? Does it link to a paypal account or something? That’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever heard.
And I’m not that old
Yes, the Secondlife economy links to PayPal. You make your ‘Linden dollars’ and go hunt up the best exchange rate deal. Usually a place called SLExchange has a good rate.. The SL people will do it too, but they charge a bit more for the service. They’re in it to make money too. So, you pay a bit for the transaction, but all in all, you win.
The Exchange rate varies and you can place Buy & Sell orders if you like. But if you want the hard, cold cash now, you just go with a set rate. Usually around $265L to the $1US. So you have to make $2650L in SL to make $10US (less your transaction fees). Not hard if you have a good gig going.
SL is just a big, visual chat room, although it contains Role Play sims, Combat sims, Nightclub Sims, etc. Fairies, deamons, monsters, mercenaries, all sorts of RPG stuff. One of my groupies runs a Elven/Fae type sim for combat RPG. There’s dark side sims too, but I won’t elaborate here. Interesting stuff. Interesting people.
So there you go,… something for everyone.
That is interesting. I’m too involved with my Warcraft toons to start another RPG, but if that ever falls apart (and it seems to be going that way) it’s nice to know that there’s something else out there to get addicted to:)
So how goes life over there? Getting ready for winter I suppose?
Yes, well…. when Warcraft loses it’s flavor, give me a toot and I’ll guide you through SL. I’ve got a collection of essential items for newbies and I know all the places where you go to obtain freebie stuff to get your Avatar looking slick. You be surprised at what can be done in SL.. One of the few RPG’s where you can actually get a virtual hug.
I posted a pic of my driving lights on the main page… Thank you Secondlife..
Out here? All’s good, lousy economy notwithstanding. The trees are begining to turn and the nights are in the 50′s ( actually, that’s about the median temperature in winter around these parts). A bit colder down South. Skiing season will start soon. They’ve already had a few good snowfalls up in the ski fields.
Beautiful day today. Gonna fire up the bike and go for a ride. And you? What’s new in your life?
Not too much going on here…it’s finally getting warm and the flowers are starting to come out, and every morning I have to force myself not to call out of work. Just have to keep telling myself to save my sick days for the summer so I can take a long weekend at the shore.
One of my closest friends is getting married in the fall, and I’m a bridesmaid, so most of my free time is consumed by her wedding planning. Have to figure out all the details of her bridal shower etc. The dress she picked out for us is beautiful and I can’t wait to wear it. I’ll probably post pics on myspace once everything’s done.
Flowers are confused here.. bizzare weather lately. Now, work can’t be that bad. Save your pennies and spend a month in Oz.. If you like it hot & want to hit the beaches, December /January are the hottest months. SPF 30+ is the norm.
Ah, weddings are always fun. I’m sure you’ll have a good time.
BTW, who’s the dog in the picture with you?