FEARS the Bulahdelah Bypass could dry up business in town have eased, with the town seeing an increase in visitors during its first summer off the Pacific Highway.
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Vice president of the Bulahdelah Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Kevin Carter said things had been looking promising for the town since the $315 million bypass opened in July last year.
"Our little town has been busy during the holidays," he said.
"The commentary back from a lot of businesses is that it has been a really good summer with plenty of people calling in, coming from both directions."
Mr Carter said the number of drop-ins at the Bulahdelah Visitor Information Centre had jumped from 416 people in January 2013 to 630 people this January.
He said one of the reasons visitor numbers had increased was because of the new recreational vehicle-friendly overnight camping spot Bulahdelah Lions set up by the river late last year.
"Some nights we had up to 30 vans there," he explained.
Manager of the Bulahdelah Motor Lodge, Harry Wright said this Christmas was busier for him than the last two.
"Because we're on the highway there used to be all this bumper to bumper traffic," he said.
"We've got guests who say they'd never stopped off here before because it was too noisy but have chosen to stop off because it's a nice quiet place to stop now."
Manager of the Bulahdelah Plough Inn Hotel Joe Gawthorpe said she had prepared for the season to be worse.
"It wasn't too bad at all, I think we got a lot of business from people camping near the area," she said.
"After a 12 month cycle we will probably know the full effect of the bypass."
Mr Carter said he thought people were now choosing Bulahdelah as a destination.