MORE than $5 million a day – that’s what the Bathurst 1000 is worth to the local economy each year.
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Even with the traffic, the noise and the busyness, the Great Race is well worth it, according to NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres.
He was among the 201,416 people who came to Bathurst for the 55th running of the Great Race.
Each year the Bathurst economy receives a $21 million boost thanks to the event, according to Bathurst Regional Council.
And while many people stay for the entire Race Week, the majority come for the main four days of the festival – equivalent to $5.25m a day in spending.
A further $4 million is spent across the Central West by people who can’t find accommodation in Bathurst, or choose to stay elsewhere.
Across the state, the Bathurst 1000 brings in $55 million for the NSW economy.
Mr Ayres said the annual event is a huge financial windfall for the city.
“There’s no doubt about it, it’s an event that generates millions of dollars into Bathurst,” he said.
He also addressed the range of negative comments from some Bathurstians over the influx of people and the traffic.
He said while some local people may be inconvenienced by additional traffic, the benefits of the race far outweigh the negatives.
“If you went through the restaurants and pubs and clubs, and even a lot of the home stays, these people [race fans] will spend money at a number of establishments,” Mr Ayres said.
He added that Bathurst is in the position of having an “incredibly unique” asset that can be used to boost the local economy.
Bathurst mayor Gary Rush said the event puts the city on the national and international stage each year.
“It’s great to think that in our bicentennial year that we have cracked 200,000 in ticket sales,” he said of crowd numbers.
“It’s one event that any regional centre would love to have.”
Cr Rush retold a story from someone he met during this year’s Bathurst 1000 who said the closest accommodation they could get to Bathurst was in Cowra.
This, he said, was an example of the benefits to the region.
Cr Rush said the race has such pulling power because it is a major sporting event in a regional centre.
“Millions of Australians across the country recognise Bathurst and the boost to the economy is significant,” he said.