The Taste of Summer has wrapped up for another year, with organisers thrilled at the event’s success.
Over 87,000 people flocked to Hobart’s waterfront for the eight-day event, up from 84,000 the previous year.
Among the products sold at this year’s Taste of Summer were almost 50,000 Bass Strait scallops, nearly 10,000 scoops of ice cream and tens of thousands of oysters.
Organisers say storeholders experienced a 26% increase in daily revenue, while the average daily attendance also rose by over 16%.
“Hobart put on a fantastic weather event, we are pleased with the outcomes and we can’t wait to start planning next year,” event Chair Jarrod Nation said.
He says locals are now understanding that the Taste is not what it used to be, with no lines and easy movement around the site.
“The uptick has been the locals understanding that it is a different event than it used to be and that’s what’s very pleasing,” he said.
Nation has coined this year’s Taste the “best” they’ve ever put on.
“We want to elevate the event to be … a world-class event and the planning has got to start now,” hinting at further expansions to the event’s offerings.
The state government has signed an in-principle funding agreement to keep the festival going until 2030.
The government has already contributed $7.7 million to private company PinPoint Group to run the event from 2021 to 2026.
“We’re still working out the final details with the organiser, but suffice to say, the Taste of Summer is here to stay,” Minister for Hospitality Jane Howlett said.
