Securing a segment on a national TV show focused on tourism and the completion of the Pacific Highway upgrade are good news for the popular tourism destination Ricardoes Tomatoes.
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Sydney Weekender returned to the award-winning tourist attraction on Tuesday to film an upcoming segment.
Ricardoes Tomatoes’ Tony Sarks said the return of host Michael Whitney was significant.
“Having the team from Sydney Weekender is brilliant for us,” he said.
“Mike and the show were here seven years ago and we saw a boost in tourism numbers off the back of the screening.
“Subsequent re-runs also proved good for us too.
“We are certainly looking to receive a similar boost once this segment screens.”
Mr Sarks described the tourism-based series as ‘a good showcase for the area’.
He said the imminent opening of the highway upgrade would also help boost accessibility to the operation.
“It’s been a bit tough while the upgrade is taking place but we are happy to weather it because we know it is going to be good for us once it is completed,” he said.
Sydney Weekender host Mike Whitney said he understood the value the show creates for tourist operations.
I think Destination NSW has realised we are offering a great platform to promote tourism across NSW.
- Miek Whitney
“I think Destination NSW has realised we are offering a great platform to promote tourism across NSW,” he said.
“We know the kind of figures we generate and this will be a wonderful boost for Ricardoes Tomatoes and the region. Sydney Weekender provides a long serving boost for the area and I think it is a wonderful vehicle for tourism right across the state.”
Mr Whitney recently signed a two year contract deal which will take him up to 24 years as host of the program.
“I would be pretty happy to extend for another 12 months and that would bring up a quarter of a century hosting the show. I think I’d be happy to hang up the boots after that.
“While I would have loved to have played more Test cricket for Australia, I would be happy to walk away after hosting 25 years of Sydney Weekender.”
He described the show as ‘an amazing free education about all things tourism’.
“While it took me about a decade to get comfortable hosting the show, I’ve been part of watching and learning about whale watching, how to grow olive oil through to understanding the significance of Aboriginal sacred sites.
“The last 10 years has been a wonderful journey. NSW is just an unbelievable state,” he said.
Ricardoes Tomatoes has been awarded the most medals in NSW for its tomatoes and most local awards for excellence as a tourism attraction.
There is no date set for the Sydney Weekender screening of the Ricardoes Tomatoes segment.