Melbourne’s recent hosting on the 18th Commonwealth Games was overwhelmingly endorsed as a huge success by visitors and locals alike. The crowd reception and support for Lord Mayor John So – to some extent at the expense of his Federal and State counterparts – certainly received a deal of media coverage around the nation.
The State Government and Games organisers are to be congratulated for encouraging people not to bring their cars into the CBD, proving to Melbournians that public transport is a fast, cheap and less stressful alternative.
The combined efforts of the Games organisers and Melbourne City Council to stage a concurrent cultural festival brought thousands into the city centre each day and evening to soak up the atmosphere of a major international event that oozed goodwill and friendship.
“A Games-time survey of international and interstate visitors to Melbourne gave the City a resounding thumbs up as vibrant and lively, well presented, easy to get around and friendly,” said Lord Mayor John So.
The survey, commissioned by the City of Melbourne, found:
- 96% said Melbourne people are friendly and helpful
- 98% the City is well presented
- 96% the City has beautiful parks
- 92% the City is easy to get around as a pedestrian
- 95% said they felt safe
- 97% that the City is vibrant and lively.
Face to face interviews were conducted in the City during the Games.
“Melbourne is a great city – clean, lively, safe and inviting,” the Lord Mayor said. “It’s pleasing to see our visitors recognise our City’s strengths, especially at a time when the City had 40 per cent more pedestrian activity than is usual.
“On the broad question of how satisfied visitors were with their overall experience of Melbourne 96 per cent were satisfied and none were solely dissatisfied – that’s close to a perfect score.”
The survey also sought comments from visitors on what contributed to them feeling satisfied or very satisfied.
Among these were:
- “I think the friendliness and helpfulness of everybody here. Everyone has made time for us.”
- “The atmosphere. I feel safe on the streets any time of day or night.”
- “Just so alive.”
- “I think it is a fun and vibrant city with a lot to offer everyone.”
- “The people and it is just a cultured city. Its surroundings are very clean and beautiful.”
- “Spotless in comparison to London and people talk to each other.”
