Shoalhaven Tourism manager Steve Lawson believes the international attention the region received earlier this week through Kim Kardashian’s visit can only be a good thing.
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Kardashian created hype on social media over her secret swimwear photo shoot for Vogue at Bristol Point in Jervis Bay on Monday, even if she did refer to the area as “Sydney” and not the Shoalhaven to her many followers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
“I think it is now being referred to as Instafail, and many of her followers were quick to point out her faux pas,” Mr Lawson said.
Kardashian posted a photo on her Instagram account of Hole in the Wall Beach near Bristol Point in Jervis Bay with the caption “Sydney”.
A number of her followers were quick to pick up on her geographical error; Instagram user @kewanaparsons said “as a traditional owner of the area in this photo, this is not Sydney”.
Another, @kirstylee984, said “two and a half hours south of Sydney, not even close! When ‘promoting’ please get the place right.”
Mr Lawson said it was still a great opportunity to showcase the area.
“Perhaps she was jetlagged and didn’t realise she was in the Shoalhaven at the time,” he said.
“At the end of the day any publicity is good publicity.
“Let’s face it, she has 25 million Twitter followers, and something like 12 million Facebook followers, her profile is amazing and any mention of the area can only be a good thing.”
He said the next round of publicity should come when the shoot is published in Vogue.
“The day was pretty spectacular so it should showcase Shoalhaven to the world in all its amazing beauty,” Mr Lawson said.
“We are hoping in the photos or article they credit Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven.”
The photo shoot was done in Booderee National Park and while it is in the Shoalhaven, Mr Lawson said the local council has no jurisdiction over the area.
“We really had no knowledge of the shoot and under confidentiality agreements that were probably in place I can understand we were not informed,” he said.
He said Booderee was no different to any other destination in the area that can be used for photo shoots.
“We don’t as much shut down a beach, there are just areas earmarked where we allow filming under a permit. It is not an unusual scenario that was created on Monday,” he said.
“In reality it is a Catch 22 situation – they are shooting a commercial or whatever and they need space to do it and you need to respect the fact she is an international celebrity and with that comes a lot of prying eyes and often a lot of paparazzi trying to get photos.
“It is a good thing for area and the fact our visitor’s economy is so important to the Shoalhaven, to showcase it worldwide is great and it is not a bad way to entice international visitors to the area.”
