Festivale has wrapped up for another year.
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Peak Tasmanian weather shone down on Launceston’s City Park for the weekend, as more than 22,000 people attended the food and wine event.
It was a feast for all the senses – top-notch produce backed up by quality interstate and Tasmanian musicians, renowned comedians, and quirky roaming performers.
Festivale committee chairman David Dunn noted last week that his favourite part of the event is the atmosphere.
The atmosphere is the intangible essence of Festivale that bubbles just below the surface, and makes it a truly special event.
Among those who attended was this year’s guest chef, Karen Martini.
A regular on television cooking shows, and an outstanding “foodie” in her own right, Martini is smitten by Tasmanian produce.
Speaking to The Examiner on Friday, Martini said “I always know there will be something special around the corner”, in reference to our bountiful stock.
On her Instagram account, Martini hailed Launceston’s Harvest Market as “one of the best farmer’s markets I’ve ever been to” and praised the growers and their goods.
She wasn’t the only one loving Tasmania – domestic goddess Nigella Lawson was also full of praise for our Apple Isle, during her visit last week.
Lawson raved about her trip, and the food she had while here.
In one simple social media post, she gave Tassie the kind of publicity tourism bodies could only dream about: “If you like eating, you’ve got to go to Tasmania,” she captioned on a photo.
High-profile visitors bring the state a lot of attention, and subsequent tourism interest.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2014 visit to the state has been credited with boosting the number of Chinese visitors to Tasmania.
It is likely that in six, 12, 18 months’ time, we will be crediting the likes of Lawson and Martini with a similar boom in “foodie” tourists.
It’s beyond well-known that Tasmania’s tourism is on the up. But it still needs repeating: the state must be ready for visitors.
From businesses to infrastructure to the general attitude of individuals, we’ve asked for them to visit, and now they’re coming.
Restrictive opening hours, bad customer service and flailing foundations won’t do. Just as a positive social media post can do wonders, a negative one can undo it all.