Did ‘Wolf Creek’ kill tourism?
The ‘Power of Every One’ – 3 generations agree at a 91st birthday party
January 20, 2006Communities keep on keeping on
January 24, 2006“‘Wolf Creek’ will do for backpacking what ‘Jaws’ did for swimming”
Phillip Diprose from Victoria emailed us with this Sun-Herald quote, published on the Official Movie Website, after reading the PWF ‘Declining domestic tourism’ article. Interested in the ‘official’ explanation for declining domestic markets Phillip says that while recent fuel prices have clearly had an impact on numbers travelling by car to the NT and Queensland, what about the impact of ‘Wolf Creek’? He reckons that just about anyone who saw this movie and has had limited exposure to distance in Australia would become extremely reticent about travelling by car to the more remote places.
Are you in the tourism industry or in the market for a NT touring holiday? What level of influence do you think the film is having? Apparently it is only soon to be released in the NT due to the Falconio murder trial – interesting to see what Territorians think! NT Tourism Commission’s Rita Harding says audiences are smart enough to tell the difference between true life and fiction and though the film has been criticised for ‘over the top’ violence she isn’t worried about ‘Wolf Creek’ or ‘Rogue’, a croc-horror film by the same director, having any sort of negative effect. I’m not sure …. it’s probably put me off seeing the movie though I’m tempted as I have actually been there! What about you?
Wolfe Creek Crater National Park
Phillip also discovered that whilst the movie is called Wolf Creek, the place it’s supposed to be based on is Wolfe Creek and though they state upfront that it is all based on real events the review makes it clear that it is not! A bit odd, some sort of ‘artistic licence’ or unnecessary sensationalism? And why not come up with a name materially different from the area? Having said all of this Phillip says the film is extremely well made – if you’re into horror films – which I suppose we all are occasionally?
We’ll probably never know if the film has impacted negatively on intending travellers to the NT (DO let us know if it has!!) but I guess at any time there are ‘winners and losers’. I read today how international tourism demand has been so strong it has pushed up room rates in major Australian hotels. In the year ending September 2005 the room rate for tourism accommodation was up 7.5% due to a 6% increase in international visitors (5.5 million). (Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels quoted in Hospitality Magazine Newsletter).
What’s happening with tourism in your area?
3 Comments
I think the disturbing aspect of the film is that the scenario is a not so distant possibility as Australia has many relatively “remote” tourist attractions – alot of dauntingly isolated places. However, I don’t think the impact of Wolf Creek upon tourism will be that significant. How commercially successful has the film been and has it been received well overseas by potential visitors? If it has any effects they will probably be upon domestic tourism. Regardless of Aussie cop shows which would like to give the impression that Australia even has the capacity to produce a homicide case of this variety once every twenty years..I don’t think it is really worth worrying about… 🙂
i think that wolf creek went a bit down hill after the movie was shown. but i think may people will think its a good adventure to see what its like there.
wolf Creek is actually partially based on the Ivan Milat backpacker murders and and Snowtown bodies in the barrels case (though I can’t find where I read that one).