Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie tourism ready to welcome interstate visitors

It’s a day that felt like it would never come, but with Queensland’s border reopening on Monday tourism operators around the region are ready to welcome those from interstate with open arms. SUBSCRIBE to find out how.

It’s a day that seemed like it would never come, but with 80 per cent of eligible Queenslanders now fully vaccinated, borders are opening to other states just in time for Christmas.

This week Bundaberg matched the state’s fully vaccinated figure, with 81.5 per cent of residents fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Gympie reached 72.9 per cent double jabbed and on the Fraser Coast rates reached 82.8 per cent.

With Queenslanders exploring what is in their own backyards getting the wheels turning in local tourism and hospitality sectors, local tourism operators are now preparing to welcome visitors from interstate.

Bundaberg Tourism CEO Katherine Reid said Bundaberg had strong leisure visitation from Queenslanders during the last 12 months.

“Many visitors talk about ‘rediscovering the Bundaberg region’ maybe having travelled here on a family holiday when they were kids and coming back this past year for a holiday with their friends or own young family,” she said.

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“The tourism and hospitality sectors are focused on being prepared for the easing of restrictions and vaccine mandates that come into place from December 17.

“The border opening will be wonderful to reunite families and we know there are many locals looking forward to seeing loved ones again as they cross to the border into Queensland.”

Ms Reid said accommodation properties around the region had already had strong bookings for the summer.

“With the Mon Repos Turtle Encounter tickets being released early September, and all marketing and PR activity being focused on ‘don’t miss out’ over many years, we see an influx of bookings for summer across tours and accommodation in September every year,” she said.

“With more than 6000 tickets being sold for the turtle tours on the first day of release, the flow on effect of bookings of complimentary experiences is equally extraordinary.

“Always excitement from the tourism and hospitality industry looking forward to welcome visitors to the Bundaberg region no matter where they are from.”

Meanwhile on the Fraser Coast, CEO of Fraser Coast Tourism and Events Martin Simons said operators were enthusiastic and ready to welcome visitors, but were also being cautious.

“There’s a fair bit of unknown, we are positive, enthusiastic and ready,” he said.

“The numbers at the moment are a lot of returning Queenslanders and people reuniting with family and friends and I think that will give the region a boost.

“It’s yet to be seen what those numbers will look like after that.

Fraser Coast Tourism and Events CEO Martin Simons.

“We are expecting that initial surge but I think there is still a bit of hesitancy with ensuring borders stay open.”

Mr Simons said while there was some hesitancy the region had been busy with visitors.

“We’re feeling positive accommodation numbers are about 10 to 15 per cent above 2019, which we use as a benchmark because it was before covid,” he said.

“We’ve got very resilient groups of people who are ready and open believe it will be as good as any region.

“We’ve proved ourselves be very viable and I congratulate our operators, we’re looking forward to coming out other side, but it is too early to talk about post covid right now.”

While they may be proceeding with caution tourism operators around the Wide Bay have been receiving interest from interstate travellers since the border opening was announced.

Owner of Tin Can Bay’s Sleepy Lagoon Motel Jenny Gray said they were very happy to be welcoming back people visiting from interstate.

Jenny Gray said the Tin Can Bay Sleepy Lagoon Motel started receiving interest as soon as the announcement on borders opening was made.

“We are quite booked already but we are getting bookings from interstate now, as soon as any announcement gets made we get quite a quick reaction online, so we’ll be very happy to welcome them back,” she said.

“It seems unreal that people haven’t been able to travel in their own backyard, we have family in Victoria that will be coming up to visit.

“Don’t really need to prepare, we have things open try keep up to date with covid rules; there’s nothing special to be done, we just need to be able to offer people a room when they book.”

Jenny said while they were excited to be welcoming people back from interstate, there was always the unknown of new cases.

“There is a little bit of apprehension of what happens if covid cases come up and it’s always at the back of mind wondering anything will eventuate,” she said.