Schoolies wave drowning local businesses with losses ‘worse than Covid’

Surfers Paradise is overflowing with tens of thousands of Schoolies revellers, but Gold Coast businesses are experiencing losses ‘worse than Covid’. FIND OUT WHY

Some Gold Coast tourism hub traders say business has been slashed by 70 per cent – with this year’s Schoolies influx impacting the precinct “worse than Covid.”

Popular local haunt Lan Spa offering massage and therapy treatments along with Subway’s Elkhorn Ave franchise and Schoolie’s go-to Rent N Ride scooters said numbers were drastically down from last year.

Crowds enjoying Schoolies 2023 at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Lan Spa manager Bella Kim and employee Teresa Lin said trade had never been so bad.

“Last year was a lot better than this. It was quiet but not this quiet,” Ms Kim said.

“This is worse than Covid – during Covid we made a lot of money – we were booked out every day. Now we have no bookings.

“We’re spending so much money on marketing with zero return.”

Ms Kim said Lan Spa supports 10 casual staff with an average day requiring eight to 10 spa therapists in the clinic.

Lan Spa manager Bella Kim and employee Teresa Lin said trade had never been so bad. Picture: Instagram

“This is gravely impacting our employees – of course there’s no guarantee with casual work but we need to give our staff something and we just can’t,” Ms Kim said.

“It hurts them. How can they afford their life?

Ms Lin said letters were dropped off to businesses across Surfers Paradise informing them and residents how Schoolies would impact operation.

The duo were concerned the letters may have actually hindered business for operators in the visitor hotspot.

“It was like a threat, similar to what happened during the 2018 Commonwealth Games – (that) ‘There’s going to be lots of traffic, road closures, try not to travel by car,’ – now it seems to have scared everyone off,” Ms Lin said.

Ms Kim added: “This year was bad – now with Schoolies it’s worse than ever. We don’t know what to do.”

A deserted Cavill Avenue in April, 2020. The Covid pandemic threw small businesses into crisis, with many owners either sending workers home or closing as customers wane. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Subway’s Corey Hohn and Myaleika Colvin said they were “surprised” at how quiet this year’s Schoolies trade had been.

“We would usually have lines out the door going all the way down the road at this time,” Ms Colvin said.

Ms Colvin said traditionally Schoolies trade had been busy during the first week, but would drop the following week.

“This is unusual – we’re down by 70 per cent from last year and being this quiet now, it’s like a sign of what’s to come.”

Rent N Ride’s Tay-Sharn Wesley, operating within the Glitter Strip for 15 years, said the city was a ghost town compared with previous years.

“I’m not really seeing Schoolies around the streets,” Mr Wesley said.

“It’s a lot quieter and trade for us is probably down by 50 per cent.”

Schoolies continues next week for interstate arrivals.