TOURISM Victoria's new television advertisement promoting Daylesford as part of a three-year $7.3 hmillion advertising campaign, has prompted unprecedented debate around the town.
The Advocate has been inundated with letters to the editor, with 90 per cent in favour of the Live A Double Life campaign.
Pepper's Springs Retreat's Claudette Earle wrote that the campaign presented Daylesford as "a visual feast of the senses dedicated to the wellbeing of our visitors".
And ChillOut's Jim Culbertson wrote that "a great deal of advertising is like very expensive wallpaper; visible but not really noticed, certainly not remembered and rarely ever discussed".
"The ad created by Mojo is entertaining with its provocative and sensual imagery, passionate and engaging with its storyline and thought provoking - causing us to watch it again and again."
However, Daylesford's Deb Fryers, currently on tour with the movie Charlie and Boots, wrote that "not once in the ad do you get a feeling for the real Daylesford and what it truly has offer by way of the spas, the food, the wine and of the wonderful people".
"This latest ad is reverse engineering all of the work that Tourism Victoria has previously done to get tourists to our wonderful town."
The Advocate website has also received its fair share of hits with most taking a negative view of the advert.
P. Hogan wrote: "Please!!!!! The bloody thing looks like a Chanel ad! Stop with the Arty Farty and bring back the character of OZ, VIC, NSW, QLD etc...".
Griffith added: "I saw the add twice. The second time it had my attention because I didn't get what it was the first time. I love Victoria but I can't see this ad increasing tourism. Sorry guys ..."
However, SpaCountryGirl said that while she didn't "particularly like the ad" the money would buy a lot of frequency.
"As for the indignation of those who don't like being portrayed as sad peasants ... oh, please - you poor precious things! Lighten up!"
Mayor Bill McClenaghan, in response to queries on whether promoting sex in Lake Daylesford was a good idea, said "swimming is not advised due to the very cold temperature of the water".
"We do need to keep in mind that the advertisement is not a literal depiction of the region - instead (it) seeks to capture the essence of the spa country, where one can submerge in the natural wonders of the region or be tempted to indulge in our rich array of fine food and wine," Cr
McClenaghan said.
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