Venues across Cairns and Port Douglas praise customers over QR check ins, vaccine passports

Far North pubs and restaurants have reacted to vaccine mandates and stricter check in measures as crowds pour in from interstate.

FAR NORTH pubs and restaurant owners have praised the public’s response to vaccine mandates and stricter check in measures as crowds began pouring in from interstate.

Traffic along the Captain Cook Highway entering Port Douglas was constant on Thursday and Friday ahead of the Christmas break, with traders reporting a swell of customers.

Courthouse Hotel manager Robert Di Carlo said the popular Macrossan Street pub was seeing high volumes of tourists for one of the few times in 2021.

Bavarian Beer Haus manager Bastian Krohnfuss has not had any issues with patrons complying with the new mandates. Picture: Brendan Radke

“There are a lot more families getting around and we are getting a few more rushes,” he said.

“It’s a nice change and a lot better than last week, and you can start to see it is getting busier and busier.

“And from Boxing Day it will kick off.”

Mr Di Carlo said he had been the surprised by the level of compliance from all customers regarding the Covid QR check in and providing proof of vaccination.

Only double dosed patrons can enter pubs, clubs and restaurants in Queensland.

“Everything has been surprisingly good, we didn’t know what to expect,” Mr Di Carlo

“everyone from the southern states have been doing this for so long so a lot of them virtually show you before you ask.

“I thought we might have got a bit of resentment and more of a kick back from the locals, but a lot of them understand and have been very compliant and assisting with it as well.”

The Court House Hotel, Port Douglas, Qld credit: Alison George escape 31 January 2021 hot list classic coastal pubs

Blue Marlin owner Paul Harris said he’d had a couple of issues with patrons not being able to download the Queensland QR check in app.

“Other than that it hasn’t gone too bad,” he said.

“I had eight people waiting to get in yesterday who had not downloaded it, so maybe we could get a national one? That might be an idea.”

Cairns RSL general manager Craig Clark said some people were finding it difficult to link their digital vaccine certificate from Medicare to the check in app.

“But we’ve found the majority of people have been well prepared and know what they need to do,” he said.

“It’s been a lot smoother than what we’ve thought it would be.”

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Originally published as Venues across Cairns and Port Douglas praise customers over QR check ins, vaccine passports