Tourism industry gears up to welcome Melburnians over Melbourne Cup long weekend

Geelong’s peak hospitality operators have expressed their relief at the the looming end to patron caps and the opening of Melbourne to the regions.

Melburnians are expected to pour millions of dollars into the region’s economy over the upcoming long weekend.

Visitors from the capital will be allowed into the region from Friday night, just in time for the hard-hit tourism industry to capitalise on their return over the long weekend.

Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine executive director Brett Ince said as soon as the state government announced Melburnians could enter regional Victoria, there had been some “really strong” bookings into the region.

Sailors' Rest restaurant staff celebrate the looming end of travel restrictions from Melbourne with Rhys Borg, Lucy Wall and Ben Musselwhite. Picture: Mark Wilson

“It’s very exciting and this is the start hopefully of a really bright next few months,” Mr Ince said.

“We know Melbourne Cup is a really strong weekend for the region.”

He said he expected millions of dollars to be poured into the region by Melburnians over the long weekend.

“It will be really exciting to welcome them,” Mr Ince said.

Sailors' Rest restaurant staff celebrate the looming end of travel restrictions from Melbourne with Hayden John and Rhys Borg Picture: Mark Wilson

Geraldine Tripodi, owner of waterfront venue Sailors’ Rest, said it was “absolutely” great news Melburnians could return to the region.

“We really miss Melburnians,” she said.

“You just notice the difference on the weekends when there’s no Melburnians.”

And she said patron caps easing was a relief.

“We know we’re heading back to normal life,” she said.

Lyndsay Sharp, director of the Sharp Group which operates venues including Jack Rabbit Vineyard and Leura Park Estate, said she felt “relief beyond expression”.

“It was lovely welcome news,” she said.

Bookings from Melburnians began to flow for the long weekend following the announcements.

“I think people are busting to get back to our region,” she said.

Originally published as Tourism industry gears up to welcome Melburnians over Melbourne Cup long weekend