Tourists urged to swim with seals on south coast
Businesses on the south coast who have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the wake of the bushfires this summer are pleading with holiday-makers to return to their towns to help their recovery — and have a great time, to boot.
NSW
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Businesses on the south coast who have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars this summer are pleading with holiday-makers to return to their towns in the wake of the horror bushfire season.
Blazes ravaged coastal hamlets from late November forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of tourists from Nowra to Eden.
Most operators earn 20 to 60 per cent of their annual revenue during the summer and are pleading with tourists and government for support.
The idyllic town of Mossy Point was surrounded by fires on New Year’s Eve, stopping Kate Waterson from running her cafe and kayak touring business.
“We have had the kayak touring side of the business for 12 years. In January we only took out one tour. It has been the quietest season we have ever had,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“Sometimes we feel like we’re the lucky ones because we didn’t lose a house or business but it has been really tough.”
She hugged and kissed regulars when they returned to the cafe, with regulars swapping bushfire war stories over a cup of coffee.
Ms Waterson could not put an exact number on the losses, which is a stark contrast to Nelligen publican Joel Alvey.
Mr Alvey runs the pub with his mother Heather and wife Melissa and said they have lost about $200,000 during the past two months.
“It has been a ghost town, it is just dead here. There is a caravan park across the road which is our main source of income is so quiet — there’s normally about 400 people there each night but now it is just dead,” he said.
“Without a doubt, this is the worst, and the hardest time we have had. But I am not giving up, I’m not quitting.”
Further south in Merimbula, businesses have been shut for weeks as they try to alleviate costs.
Merimbula Chamber of Commerce president Nigel Ayling said businesses have lost 60 per cent of their annual profit.
“Around 20 or 30 businesses have been burnt down, but that is less than two per cent of our economy,” he said.
“We have about 100 hospitality and tourism providers who have been affected and almost 150 accommodation providers in the area who have been impacted.”
The ongoing effects mean that Merimbula Fresh Seafood owner Dave Swan has had to drastically cut back hours for his staff and do most of the heavy lifting himself.
“I’d say we have lost about $400,000 in profit, stock and earnings this summer,” he said.
“It is bad for me, but also my employees have families, they have bills to pay, and I just can’t afford to give them the hours.”
Last month Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham announced a $76 million fund for bushfire-affected tourism businesses.
In a statement, he said the initial sum will be used to “protect jobs, small businesses and local economies by helping get tourists travelling across Australia again”.
SURVIVING THE SUMMER
In the coastal hamlet of Narooma, businesses have been desperately trying to stay afloat despite the evacuation of thousands of tourists in December and January.
Narooma Charters owner Nick Ingersole said his business typically takes five tours out each day in summer but they have had only had two for the whole of January.
“It has been bloody tough, we haven’t ever had anything like this before. There have even been times where other operators who do similar dives and trips to us have spoken to each other to get enough numbers for a trip,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“There’s been a few times where we’ve had a conversation and been, like well, we might as well refer these people to you so there’s enough for a group to go out.”
The business he runs with his father Norm Ingersoll offers fishing, swimming with seals and tours of Montague Island — just off the coast of Narooma.
Snorkelling with seals is typically their most popular activity, with tourists paddling within metres of a colony of Australian seals.
When The Daily Telegraph visited the island the seals swam towards the boat and surrounded photographer Toby Zerna when he swam among them.
Mr Ingersole said the seals had missed the tours and they were particularly keen to have the tourists back.
The season has also taken a toll on family-run business Underwater Safari, which offers swimming with seals and scuba diving.
“We’re at the point now where we are looking for other jobs to get us through the winter,” owner Francois van Zyl said.
“There has just been a massive amount of cancellations locally and from overseas. People think the south coast is burning down.”
His wife and business partner Clover van Zyl said the most effective way to help businesses suffering from the downturn was to get tourists to return to the area.
“We are really hopeful people will come down in April. Normally it is not as popular but we need the support this year,” she said.
Originally published as Tourists urged to swim with seals on south coast