Mark _australia said...
EDIT: Or when the Margs tourism industry CAN sell accomodation, gourmet cheeses, wines, beer etc to rich people because, yep you guessed it, mining has increased disposable income for many people.
Actually, I think tourism in the region has been hit pretty hard by the strong $AUD, which is not suprising as the resorts etc in the region were grossly overpriced to begin with. Margaret River and surrounds has become a haven catering to a niche clientelle who don't care if they are being blatently ripped off as they view this as a visible indicator of their wealth to the rest of the plebians.
Seriously, who would pay AUD$800.00 for an hours massage that involves simultaneously having a Spangled Seahorse inserted into your rectum, your scrotum exfoliated with Tahitian Pumice Stone, your teeth whitened with Limestone from the depths of the Mammoth Cave, and a fake tan applied that is made from Jewel Cave Spring Water and Boojidup river silt, an imported Mexican Midget smoking a joint of Fontes Finest walking up and down your back to re-align your spine whilst being fed Margaret River Venison canapes by a French backpacker on a work visa with amazingly perky boobies and having an I.V. bag of Leeuwin Estate Chardonney hooked up to your arm whilst the view through the huge glass windows frames Injidup Point twice overhead and mid-tide.