Push for Blue Moutains tourism as fires taint economy

FIRST ON 7: People are being urged to consider a summer holiday in the Blue Mountains as the region recovers from October’s bushfires.

More than 200 homes were destroyed in the devastating fires, and now the community is dealing with the economic impacts.

A new report commissioned by the Blue Mountains Council predicts the local economy will lose $71 million dollars, 371 jobs and $17 million in wages as a result.

"For a population of just 78,000 a loss like that is enormous," mayor Mark Greenhill said.

Tourism will be hit hardest - even though the fires spared the region's world famous attractions.

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said: "That's the irony - despite the news at the time - the tourism infrastructure of the Blue Mountains is unaffected."

Dr Gabrielle Walters from the University of Queensland said potential visitors were shying away from the region because of the fires.

"People have been cancelling because they believe the Blue Mountains are ablaze and dangerous, or scarred and damaged - nothing could be further from the truth," she said.

While the short term future looks bleak, tourism recovery experts are predicting the focus of locals and attention from governments means the prospects for a robust long term recovery are promising.

It has prompted this appeal from NSW premier Barry O’Farrell.

"If you haven’t made any holiday plans, you'll be able to secure accommodation and have a great time in the Blue Mountains," he said.

According to Mayor Greenhill, for non beachgoers, there is no better escape from the scorching Sydney sun than the Blue Mountains.