Cheap airfares and a strong dollar are fuelling a tourist drought in Margaret River, according to The Australian Financial Review.
West Australians are swapping glasses of Margaret River chardonnay for cocktails at a Bali poolside this festive season as the strong dollar and airline price war make travelling to the Indonesian island more attractive than ever.
In stark contrast to last year, Margaret River’s hoteliers have been forced to offer discounts or incentives to combat softer than usual demand.
Just 12 months ago it was near impossible to find a spare room in Margaret River, when a depressed dollar and the financial crisis prompted West Australians to holiday in their own backyard.
But this year the financial crisis is in the rearview mirror, the dollar is about 30 per cent higher and a price war between airlines has made travelling to Bali relatively inexpensive.
