Records kept at visitor information centres in Woodend and Kyneton showed an increase of 2 per cent, or 1000 people, in visitor numbers to the centres in 2008 compared with 2007.

Kyneton District Business and Tourism Association president Janet Shackleton, who runs the Old Saddlery Cafe, said that despite a downturn after the Black Saturday bushfires, visitor numbers had picked up in recent weeks.

She believes the shire is in a good position as people begin to opt for travel closer to home.

"The structure of getting away and visiting places has changed. There's virtually no international travel and interstate travel has been affected," she said.

"Because we are so accessible here, I would suggest the Macedon Ranges would benefit quite substantially from that. We are keeping a smile on our faces and our doors wide open."

Ms Shackleton said the association would hold a "sustainable town breakfast" on Thursday, focusing on sustainability in small communities through difficult economic times.

Gisborne Business District Association president Bob Nixon said feedback from members had not been negative.

Mr Nixon, who owns Gisborne Peak Winery, said his business was showing signs of strong growth.

"Visitation is up, not down, and wine sales are up. I think people are becoming more local in their spending patterns and not travelling as far."

He said the shire's proximity to Melbourne would help as the economic downturn continued.

"It will become a positive, when in the past we were too damn close to Melbourne and people would just drive through. Now the day-tripper might become a weekender."

Woodend Business and Tourism Association president Cori Felvus, who runs Woodend Bakery Cafe, said the town had been hit hard after the bushfires.

She said conference centres and camps had been worst hit during January and February and had "sporadic business". Some wineries had seen visitor numbers drop from 120 to just one some weekends.