‘We are ready to pack our bags and jump on a plane back home’: Tourists hit the roof over requirements

No shirt, no shoes, no problem. The Gold Coast is supposed to be Australia’s relaxation mecca, but interstate tourists enduring strict travel requirements say it’s anything but.

From “completely idiotic” queues at testing facilities to stringent travel requirements, tourists from interstate say they have had a “gutful” of Queensland and are ready to “pack their bags and jump on a plane back home”.

Two friends from Melbourne, Andy Dimopoulos and Betty Petri, have just arrived on the Gold Coast for a six-day visit.

They said they “just wanted to lap up the sunshine”.

Melbournians Andy Dimopoulos and Betty Petri are keen to let their hair down and enjoy their holiday on the Gold Coast, but would like to do so without state government requirements. Pic Mike Batterham

“Because we had to get tested 72 hours prior to flying into Queensland it made it really difficult for us, especially when the Christmas period was so busy,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

“It’s been super frantic and we’ve spent several hours over the festive season getting everything in order for this holiday.

“But even since we arrived we’ve been stressing about our five-day mandatory Covid-19 test as we heard there were lines around the block and limited places to get tested.

“We are scared that trying to do the right thing by the government will actually ruin our holiday because we will have to spend most of it lining up.”

Mr Dimopoulos said people from Melbourne deserved a break the most, after “going through the wringer” for the past two years.

“I kind of wish we could just come here without all the hectic guidelines. The Gold Coast is supposed to be a place where you come to relax.”

Sanela Muratovic, who is travelling with her family, said the testing lines were “completely idiotic.”

Ms Sanela Muratovic, husband Elvis and son Deen are not happy with how their Gold Coast holiday has gone so far. Pic Mike Batterham

“The state government needs to drop it (requirements). I would understand if you had one or two cases, but Queensland is in the thousands now. It’s over,” she said.

“We came here on a holiday, not to spend hours out in the boiling sun waiting for a test we couldn’t even get.”

Ms Muratovic said she lined up from 8am on Monday and by the time the line was approaching the front door at the testing facility on Ferny Ave, people were “turned away”.

“It’s completely disgusting and has been impossible for us to even get a test.

“Why would you mandate something and then not roll out the appropriate infrastructure to get the five-day test? We have testing facilities on every street corner back home in Melbourne.

“If the tourism body wants people to come here on holiday they should be able to get tested in 5-10 minutes. Not stand around to have their holiday wrecked.

“I don’t even care if they fine us. They can have one dollar a week because that’s all I’m giving them (state government).”

An elderly couple from Sydney said they have had a “gutful” and were ready to “pack their bags and jump on a plane back home”.

“It’s completely unfair to expect people who have already done it so tough from Sydney and Melbourne to endure unrealistic expectations from the Queensland government,” the woman said.