What don't festival promoters understand about treating customers fairly and the importance of word of mouth in tourism?

When I dropped off some young relatives and friends at the Brisbane Oktoberfest I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly, happy, youthful party goers, all of whom had gone to some lengths to dress appropriately.

After, the reports were not so good. For instance, a one hour wait for a drink at profiteering prices. I will leave it at one example, but after $25 at the gate to enter and the young adult visitors having made such an effort themselves to join in the spirit of the event, they deserved a lot better.

Everyone accepts that venues must be paid for (although the RNA showground is cheap, sparse, lacking shade and dusty) and profit is not a dirty word, especially where it enables continuation of what should be a popular event.

However, Brisbane and the event organisers are damned foolish to treat young visitors, local and tourists, so casually. Especially where the crowds visiting are so civil, well-behaved and are prepared to put effort into the festival.

When will it sink into the thick heads that the promises and the large sums spent of advertising will only rankle, where patrons are seen as sheep to be fleeced?

It defies understanding that government and event organisers do not understand the first thing about tourism, that a bit of seed money and decent treatment of young customers and tourists will always result in family tourism later, when much larger sums are spent.

It seems to be that way everywhere in Australia. Why the hell are we the taxpayers allowing local entrepreneurs with government blessing to treat visitors so shabbily anyhow? It should not always be up to the taxpayer either, tourist entrepreneurs MUST give value for money and superior, welcoming service. It is investment too.

Speaking of welcoming tourists, the way people are treated like criminals the very first thing as they enter Australia, I cannot recommend visiting Australia as a positive experience.

Instead of meeting the beauty of the land and its people, visitors first encounter the ugliness of the Australian state that's in the way. Even before landing, weary travellers are forcibly wakened up (or otherwise have their entertainment-systems switched off) in the early hours of the morning to the discordant beating of the drums, "declare or beware". Later on they are questioned and searched, including by dogs, a "new" experience for the vast majority of honest decent people and reminiscent of the dogs employed against Jews when entering Nazi concentration camps.

Australian residents have no choice but facing this humiliation every time they want to return home, but under these circumstances tourists would do well to avoid Australia - and the word goes around!

Yuyutsu, have you ever visited an overseas country?

>>Even before landing, weary travellers are forcibly wakened up (or otherwise have their entertainment-systems switched off) in the early hours of the morning to the discordant beating of the drums, "declare or beware". Later on they are questioned and searched, including by dogs, a "new" experience for the vast majority of honest decent people and reminiscent of the dogs employed against Jews when entering Nazi concentration camps.<<

Compared with, say, Los Angeles, landing in Sydney is an absolute breeze.

Dear Pericles,

I have visited many overseas countries, but fortunately the USA is not one of them, nor do I ever intend to set foot there.

Sounds typical of mob entertainment. People will complain about it, but they will continue patronising such things because they have been conditioned to 'massification' by elites: politicians, big business and social engineers. It is applied to entertainment, as well as work, consumerism etc. to the extent that we are now losing our individuality and culture just to give the rich and powerful help they don't need from us, their victims.

Beach quick to invoke government involvement and taxpayers when it suits. This sounds like some kind of excuse for a gigantic piss up. Please tell what is "Octoberfest"? What significant event in Australian history are you celebrating? The beer hall putsch of 1923! LOL

Paul1405 has failed the reading and comprehension test again.

Beach if someone wants to bung on a pass up in October or any other month for that matter and wants to charge $100 a beer so be it. I thought you were all for free enterprise. Why the reference to government and taxpayers?

Paul1405,

Total fail! Try again.

You must have been the greatest disappointment of your English teacher's career.

Beach, you are possibly still inebriated from too much bier and sauerkraut along with a little too much um par par at the annual October rip off.
I fail to see the significance of a celebration of something German in Australia, and the relationship between said piss up and the Australian government and taxpayer, you mentioned the involvement of government and taxpayer not me. Where are all these "tourists" coming from to celebrate 'Octoberfest' here, Germany!
I was thinking of organizing my own version of the 'Baby Cry Sumo Day' for Japanese "tourists" of course. An Aussie version where over weight Aussie men hold up babies and see who is the first to make the baby cry by growling and making faces, very big in Japan, its steeped in tradition being held for the past 400 years in Japan. To give it the Aussie flavor I was going to flog VB and XXXX at 25 bucks a throw. Do you thing Mal should forward me a lazy mill or two of taxpayer funds to get the whole thing up and running? We could hold it in conjunction with the annual 'Mike the Headless Chicken Day' LOL

p/s My English was very good, how's your German?