DESPITE warnings of a catastrophic fire risk, anxiety levels among tourists were relatively stable in the North East high country yesterday.
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However, tourism operators fear the alert system has gone too far and may threaten the industry.
Faced with the first code red fire alert, and with authorities advising people in bushfire-prone areas to flee, tourists in the North East said they felt safe.
“We’ve taken advice from the caravan park owners and we’re happy to stay,” said Melbourne’s David Friede, whose family is holidaying with two others at Porepunkah Pines Tourist Resort.
“But we won’t be leaving the caravan park today for any day trips and if something starts then we’ll bolt.
“But we’re not too worried.”
Swimming in the Ovens River at Bright, Wayne Mutter, from Three Springs in Western Australia, said his family had been monitoring radio stations for news but were otherwise relaxed and comfortable.
“We’ve been getting a lot of family and friends calling us but we feel we’re getting enough information,” he said.
“The only thing is maybe a few more signs for visitors telling them what radio stations to tune into.”
But tourism operators say the language of the alert system, particularly the word catastrophic, was creating confusion.
“We’ve had people ring today and say they’re not coming up because of the fire even though there isn’t one,” Bright chamber of commerce vice-president Jenny Mackinnon.
“The language is designed to frighten people and we’re concerned about the impact of code red days.
“If we had one or two of these days it would be OK but we could have 14 of these days and if that happens businesses won’t be able to exist.
“Sixty per cent of Bright relies on tourism so it would have a devastating effect.”
Ms Mackinnon said the chamber would formally approach the Brumby Government to request a restructure of the alert system “to find a better balance between warning people and not destroying tourism in the area”.
Mount Beauty Holiday Centre and Caravan Park owner Mat Gardiner agreed.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of, there’s no fire, it’s just a hot, windy, summer day again, as we have every summer,” he said.
“I think it’s a little bit irresponsible of the powers-that-be to instill such a great fear in people when nothing has actually happened.
“If it happens too often and there’s no fire, I think when they call a code red people might not take it with the serious that they should — like the boy who cried wolf.”
