Reality show could make the Shire a tourist hot spot

Real people that live in the Shire might be offended by Network Ten’s reality-drama program The Shire, claiming that it’s not an accurate portrayal of the southern Sydney region, but they should remember that on past form reality shows have brought a lot of bucks into the area. The American “dramality” show (a new genre where reality is augmented by elements of scripted drama) Jersey Shore has been a boon to its home of Seaside Heights. The program, now in its sixth season, is held up as one of the reasons why local business has grown 20 per cent in what is otherwise a depressed economy. Even the town council that opposed the filming of the show reaped an additional 20 per cent increase in parking fees. Similarly in the UK, the dramality show The Only Way is Essex has turned the unremarkable town of Brentford into a hot spot for local tourists. It remains to be seen if the potential for more tourists will be enough to change the stance of local mayor Carol Provan who has called for local businesses to boycott the program.

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