INDIGO tourist visitation has increased year on year but a slowing down of growth from the impact of high living costs has been noticed.

Indigo Shire Council’s tourism manager Susannah Doyle said despite the slow growth, visitor spending had increased.

“It’s back to pre-pandemic levels topping $128 million across the shire,” she said.

Ms Doyle said areas of tourism interest over Christmas, New Year and school holiday period had been steady with ticket sales to Beechworth’s Historic Precinct, courthouse and walking tours.

“Accommodation bookings were steady during the holiday period too,” she said.

The tourism manager said last year’s addition of Beechworth to the National Heritage Listing had a positive impact with noticeable interest from the education sector and visitors since then.

The listing in August last year included Beechworth’s historic court house, telegraph office, sub-treasury, Chinese protectorate office, gold warden’s office, lock-ups, police stables, Old Beechworth Gaol and shire hall, known as the town hall.

Beechworth Inc. president Katrina Witherow said visitation seemed to happen in waves over the holiday period.

“I think with the present economic conditions people seem to visit more at weekends or the period between Christmas and New Year,” she said.

“There was quite a number of people here at those times but it’s difficult to say because every business is different.

“We had a great response around town with the Christmas lights that drew crowds too.”

Ms Witherow said lights around town extended to the Old Beechworth Gaol with its wall lit up, new lights hung in the hero tree in the Town Hall Gardens, extra lights in Ford and Camp Streets as well as the Benev in Warner Road lit up.

“Bendigo Community Bank has been a fantastic supporter for the project over the years,” she said.

“People love coming to Beechworth and our Beechworth Inc. shop local campaign did really well with fantastic support from businesses.

“We had an exciting campaign with eight draws and each person received a bundle of vouchers to spend locally.

“We’ll undertake a bigger campaign this year.”

Ms Witherow said Beechworth had some tough times during the year such as Billson’s Brewery with the appointment of an administrator.

“Some people don’t realise Billson’s is still operating and that can have an effect on visitation,” she said.

The Beechworth Inc president said an exciting development for the town included the redevelopment by the new owner of the Wardens Hotel.

She said two local businesses had also secured spots to extend business out of town with Bridge Road Brewers opening at Melbourne Airport while Beechworth Honey will be opening doors in Healesville.

“These are a couple of our really core businesses and its really fantastic move forward,” she said.

Beechworth Bakery co-owner and managing director, Marty Matassoni said a positive outlook prevailed over the Christmas holiday period with people out and about.

“The weather has been on our side as it has been warmish but it was hot and humid last year," he said.

“The town looked vibrant with the Christmas lights too."

Lake Sambell Caravan Park’s Roger Humphries said business had been good with business as usual.