Guilt Trips

Ever had a family member or friend with a knack for reminding you in a not-so-subtle way that it's been a while since you've visited?

The 'Guilt Trip' is a fun way to remind us all to stay in touch with our friends and family ... and we don't just mean via Facebook.

It might seem a little bit 'old school', but did you know the simple act of visiting a friend or relative is worth as much as $7.5 billion to the Victorian economy every year?

Public Transport Minister, Terry Mulder launched the V/Line Guilt Trip campaign on 31 May 2012 to inspire friends and family to visit loved ones in regional Victoria. Posters, radio advertising and social media take a humorous approach to ‘guilt’ people who have lost touch into a visit.

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"While the "Guilt Trip" campaign is playful and certainly a tactic most of us have employed with loved ones from time-to-time, the likely financial windfall is anything but frivolous," Mr Mulder said.

Senior Lecturer in Tourism at the University of Ballarat, Dr Elisa Backer has studied the economic benefits of the market, finding in some destinations VFR (visiting friends & relatives) travel is worth more to the local economy than non-VFR travel. The spend is across a broad range of categories and in addition, VFR travel encourages local residents to engage in tourism activities with them, adding additional benefits to the economy.

Research undertaken by Dr Backer in Greater Melbourne revealed that the average daily expenditure of VFRs when visiting was $288 compared to a $140 per day spend by non-VFRs. When the expenditure by the local resident hosting the VFR was factored in, the daily injection in the local economy was $398.

Dr Backer said VFR travel tended to be somewhat of a "shock-absorber" during economic downturns. Read more.

Listen to the Guilt Trip radio adverts:

The forgotten Facebook friend

Mates at the pub

Time to get an exchange student.

Send someone on a guilt trip ...

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