YUMMY: Ryan Martin had his work cut out with an ice cream at the annual bush market last week.
Written by CLARE QUIRK.
MYRTLEFORD businesses are well placed to sustain the economic downturn due to the town’s fighting spirit, according to Myrtleford Chamber of Commerce co-president Frank Ivone.
Mr Ivone said Myrtleford had been busier than most of the towns in the Alpine Shire.
"People might be staying in Bright, but they’re venturing into Myrtleford a lot," he said.
"All of our cafes, pizza restaurants and bakeries have had very good patronage.
"There are definitely a lot of people coming in and out of the town.
"I know the Ovens Pub has been flat out with great numbers going through.
"From my own business’s perspective we’re up 60 per cent on last year.
"What will happen in February and March though is anyone’s guess."
Mr Ivone said he firmly believed Myrtleford was well placed for the economic downturn.
"Myrtleford has done the hard yards and we will weather the downturn better than most," he said.
"We’ve done it hard before and we always recover.
"Unlike other towns we don’t rely entirely on tourism.
"We haven’t got all our eggs in one basket."
Bright Chamber of Commerce president, Daniel Boissevain, said that Bright was also experiencing a bumper holiday period.
"The general consensus is that we’re chock-a-block," he said.
"Tourism operators are over the moon with guest visitation.
"There was concern that the numbers would drop off after New Year, but we’ve had a fresh roll of visitors come in."
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