‘We’re still open’: Whitsundays guests asked to pack patience as staff face hostility

Hopeful holiday makers have been urged to keep their Whitsundays bookings amid reports of disgruntled guests verbally abusing tourism staff.

Hopeful holiday makers have been urged to keep their Whitsundays booking while reports emerge of disgruntled guests verbally abusing tourism staff.

The world-renowned holiday hotspot has faced a challenging start to 2022 which was hoped to be prosperous after the Queensland border opened.

Workers have been forced to isolate after contracting Covid-19 or becoming a close contact, compounding staff shortages which already existed due to the lack of international travelers.

Following reports of closures and food shortages at Daydream Island, Director of Sales and Marketing Alaa Armanyous said the staff were doing their very best to accommodate guests amid changes.

And they have been feeling the heat.

“Some of our staff haven’t showed up for work because the guests haven't treated them properly,” Mr Armanyous.

The Whitsundays have faced a challenging start to 2022 which was hoped to be prosperous after the Queensland border opened. 

“The whole world is short staffed right now so if someone shows up for work, we have to treat them with respect and as humans.

“They aren’t machines and they have feelings.”

The resort had up to 600 guests over the Christmas period but Mr Armanyous said they could no longer accommodate that number as about 15 per cent of their workforce were unable to board the boat to work each day.

The restaurants are currently down 14 chefs.

Daydream and Hamilton Island are both temporarily closed to day visitors.

Mr Armanyous said cancellations on the island’s end came as a last resort and were the worst call to make for a workforce passionate about tourism.

“We’re trying to let people know of cancellations a week out from their booking,” he said.

“If you haven’t been contacted a week out from your departure- you should be good to go.

“We hope people understand that this is a really hard situation to handle.”

Julie Telford. Picture: Contributed

Tourism Whitsundays Chair Julie Telford echoed his calls for support, saying there was still plenty to do for the visitors who showed up.

She said despite some cancellations reported at all three jewels of the Whitsundays- Hayman, Hamilton and Daydream Island- there was still a school holiday buzz in the air.

“The region has still been doing very well in terms of visitor numbers and that’s a real positive,” Ms Telford said.

“If you haven’t had a call to cancel from your accommodation or a tourism experience, then you can carry on coming to the Whitsundays.

“They are short-staffed but they are doing their best.”

Ms Telford’s own operation Red Cat Adventures is fully booked for the holidays with the phone ringing hot with requests for tours.

Her own staff had also experienced some confrontation, with one customer becoming distressed after realising she couldn’t board the boat due to having only one Covid-19 vaccination.

“We didn’t want that for her either- but that’s the government rules,” she said.

Mardi Seccombe’s view at Hamilton Island this week.

On Hamilton Island, guest Mardi Seccombe said most guests seemed to be enjoying their time despite some venue closures.

She said her 2022 trip was just as good as those in previous years.

“It’s actually easier to get restaurant bookings because there’s less people here and you can easily get a seat by the pool,” she said.

“We still got to go on a boat cruise yesterday and the weather has been nice.”

Ms Seccombe reported the IGA was well-stocked and restaurants were opening on a day-by-day basis.

“It wouldn’t bother me if most restaurants were closed- because we enjoy the walks and the beaches,” she said.

“That’s why you come to the Whitsundays anyway.”