‘We aren’t worried’: Tourist towns welcome visitors despite Covid threat

Despite skyrocketing Covid case numbers, tourist towns in NSW are throwing down the welcome mat, with businesses desperate for visitor dollars after a horror three years.

Tourist towns up and down the coast are bracing for a summer wave of Covid — and they don’t care.

Local business owners fear if they don’t welcome tourists this season, many of their businesses won’t survive until the next.

Family fun snorkelling at Collingwood Beach, north of Jervis Bay on the south coast. Picture: Instagram

After three years of bushfires and Covid, small town economies need a boost — and so far visitors are arriving in droves, finally putting revenue back into these battered communities.

Businesses and locals will take extra precautions — encouraging masks and sanitising — but they are willing to take the risk with Covid, despite case numbers surging above 20,000 on New Year’s Eve.

Simon Spence, co-owner of Huskisson restaurant Quarterdeck, said he was well on track to beat last year’s financial results, with bookings flooding in for the new year.

“With the weather starting to improve, and the visitors returning, it’s certainly starting to feel like it should at this time of year in our beautiful part of the world,” he said.

Huskisson Beach is a popular destination at this time of year. Picture: Instagram

While the Illawarra Shoalhaven local health district reported 821 new COVID-19 cases on New Year’s Eve, so far the rate of infection has remained significantly lower than in other parts of the state.

The cases numbers had jumped by almost 700 from Boxing Day, but Mr Spence said he expected as much, and wasn’t worried about tourists visiting from areas with high rates of infection.

“I think we will definitely see an increase in case numbers in our area with the associated increase in visitor numbers,” he said.

“Given the seeming inevitability of this outcome, we have been trying to stay focused on the things that are within our own professional and personal control.”

Fun in the sun at Jervis Bay.

Exploring rock pools at Burgess Beach.

Shayne Bricker, who has owned Two Figs at Berry winery for the past 26 years, said he was happy to see visitors on the coast after what he labelled as the most difficult two years he has ever experienced — both financially and mentally.

“I’m not personally worried about the virus. All the staff are double-vaccinated, looking to get their third shot. But I do get the sense there’s worried customers who are coming from Sydney and Canberra,” he said.

“I’m focusing on the future, I need to have a good summer to have enough in the bank to get through next year.”

Enjoying food and drink with scenic views across Cupitt’s Winery, Ulladulla.

At Cupitt’s Winery in Ulladulla cancellations were inevitable due to the rising case numbers, customer experience manager Libby Cupitt said the main issue impacting operations for small businesses had been staffing shortages.

“Many staff have had to self-isolate or get tested due to symptoms, which has made each day extremely challenging,” she said.

“We spent a lot of time and resources training new staff and preparing for the summer, and now we find that each day we are unsure who will make it to work. We have needed to restrict the bookings we take to ensure we have enough staff to operate.”

Camel riding in Anna Bay. Picture: Instagram

But high vaccination rates and the government’s “new Covid norm” messaging had quelled the fear of out-of-towners for locals, according to manager of Allure Motel in Mollymook Belinda Brown.

“So far, guests who we have experienced, who have travelled from heavily Covid impacted suburbs to our region, have generally been gracious,” she said.

“They have researched their destination, have ensured that they have complied with any Covid-related rules of our property, and have been excited to be able to travel again.

“Welcome is the traveller who comes to town doing their best to do the right thing in the new ‘Covid norm’.”

Willem Rainken, Mervin McLaughin and Daun Otto float their cares away at Lake Hume. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Simon Dallinger

Restrictions on international travel and border closures across the country have contributed to a new clientele visiting towns across the state, according to Ms Brown, with people forced to explore their own backyards.

“Fantastically, for the NSW south coast, this summer is shaping up to see a similar number of visitors to those pre-Covid,” she said.

“For many visitors to these parts, the south coast is a tradition or ‘annual pilgrimage’ — they would stay nowhere else.

“The limitations on international travel, and uncertainty of interstate border closures and restrictions, have seen a new group of Aussies discover just how special the Shoalhaven is.”

While some people were starting their summer holidays, others were lined up at the Bondi Covid testing clinic. Picture: John Grainger

Mervin McLaughin, of Wangaratta, was one of those holiday-makers staying in their own backyard these holidays, making the 45-minute trip to Lake Hume with 15 family members. Mr McLaughin said there was little fear around the virus and it was business as usual on the water.

“It’s really busy down here and everyone is just enjoying themselves,” he said.

Surf’s up at Avoca Beach. Picture: Instagram

Further north, beachside hot spots Terrigal and Avoca were also booming. Rick Daniell, who owns Acreage Luxury B&B Guesthouse at Avoca Beach said the village was “packed out” despite sky rocketing case numbers.

“We aren’t too concerned about the virus,” he said.

“The last 18 to 20 months we’ve been pretty much closed so it’s nice to get some revenue back.”

Mr Daniell took advantage of the lockdowns to renovate the bed and breakfast, but needed visitors over the next six weeks to set him up for the year ahead.

“It was a bit of a double whammy because we weren’t saving but we were spending,” he said.

“So we are looking forward to having people back.”

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