Victorians celebrate first weekend of freedom, domestic tourism providers hopeful
Victorians are lapping up their first weekend of freedom after coronavirus restrictions were eased on Monday. And with international travel banned, struggling traders are hoping locals will explore the wonders of their own state.
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Victorians freed from coronavirus lockdown are embarking on a multimillion-dollar spending spree.
With Premier Daniel Andrews giving the green light to day trips and some outdoor activities, traders in towns from Victoria’s west coast to high country are cautiously reopening their doors to tourists.
New figures from the Victoria Tourism Industry Council show two-thirds of businesses had shut, with some recording losses as high as $100 million.
But with international travel banned, the time could soon be ripe for Victorians to get out and explore the wonders of their own state, VTIC chief Felicia Mariani said.
“We will see a huge resurgence of domestic travel … Australians will recognise that they’ve got some great things to see in their own backyard,” she said.
The average loss across VTIC’s 1500-strong member base due to COVID-19 is $90,000 — but 14 per cent have lost more than $1 million since late-January, a survey reveals.
Some big businesses had haemorrhaged nearly $100 million, Ms Mariani said.
In Gippsland alone — which was hit hard by fires before COVID-19 bans — more than $250 million has been wiped from the economy.
Ms Mariani said VTIC members ranged from “tiny little enterprises that exist across regional Victoria, to multinational corporations with overseas affiliations”.
“It’s a big cross-section … and that allows us to give a really good helicopter view,” she said.
The VTIC survey showed the devastating impact coronavirus had on tourism industry jobs, with the full-time workforce dropping 40 per cent and part-time by half.
“But the absolute travesty is in casual employees … where there has been an 88 per cent decrease,” Ms Mariani said.
Many regional councils and tourism bodies told the Sunday Herald Sun traders were nervous of reopening too early and risking the health of their staff and local communities.
They were also worried they wouldn’t be viable with many restrictions still in place and overnight stays banned.
OUTDOORS AND LOVING IT
Many Victorians on Satuday took their first steps out into the world following the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions. The Sunday Herald Sun was there to capture their joy and relief at being free at last.
HAPPY TRAILS FOR HIKERS
Tamara Hutchins is definitely not the only Melburnite relieved to be outdoors again.
The Hawthorn hiker and co-founder of Melbourne Girls Outside on Saturday indulged her passion for bushwalking for the first time in weeks when she took to the trails of the Dandenong Ranges.
“I’ve really missed the fresh air,” she said.
Founder of Happy When I’m Hiking, Susan Joachim, is also looking forward to pulling on her walking boots now COVID-19 restrictions have been eased.
Members of her group would be strictly following the advice of Bushwalking Victoria to stay safe, including not carpooling on the way to and from hikes, staying 1.5m apart from other hikers and avoiding narrow paths, so there was no chance they would rub shoulders with people coming the other way.
“We will be taking every possible precaution but at the same time encouraging people to get outdoors again,” she said. “There is so much science and research showing the physical and mental health benefits.”
A SUCCULENT ATTRACTION
While international travel is off the table for a while, a slice of America’s wild west and Mexico can be found at Strathmerton’s Cactus Country.
A family business that has attracted overseas and interstate visitors, the sprawling cactus farm and nursery 11km from Cobram in the state’s north has been closed since coronavirus bans were put in place, but is set to open again soon on a bookings-only basis.
With plants from South America, North America, Mexico and South Africa, Cactus Country made visitors feel they were in the desert, owner John Hall said.
Adrian Ford, from the region’s tourism and business group, Numurkah and District Love Our Lifestyle, said the northeast had plenty of attractions to offer visitors.
With the Murray River and Broken Creek at its heart, the region had an abundance of sandy beaches, parks, walking tracks, wetlands and picnic spots, he said.
FINE LINE IN RELAXING
As a heart transplant recipient and new dad, Aaron “Red” Habgood appreciates better than most the importance of restrictions designed to keep vulnerable Victorians safe from coronavirus.
But even so, the mad-keen fisherman could barely contain his excitement when Premier Dan Andrews finally lifted fishing bans last week.
“I haven’t been that excited to go fishing since I was a little kid,” Mr Habgood said.
To top it off, fish on the Bellarine Peninsula — where his Salt Guide fishing advice business is based — have been biting all week.
Dropping a line at Queenscliff with partner Kari Peart and newborn baby Finn on Saturday, Mr Habgood said, “It’s been a massive relief to be able to get back to fishing, that’s for sure.”
FRESH AIR AND A BUN
It’s known for its historic buildings, autumn leaves, clean country air and namesake bakery, but the gold rush town of Beechworth is also a mecca for hikers and mountain-bikers.
While local traders and tourism operators are hesitant to declare their small town “open for business” just yet, they are working towards being able to welcome day-trippers back soon.
Beechworth Bakery managing director Marty Matassoni said businesses in the town had suffered badly from the lack of tourist trade resulting from the COVID-19 lockdown, but didn’t want to encourage visitors back too early and put locals at risk.
A picnic in the park, with a famous Beechworth Bakery bee sting custard bun, or a walk or bike ride in the countryside, could be the safest way to enjoy the area for the time being, he said.
ALL SUNNY IN THE MALL
Victorians made the most of good weather and the first weekend of relaxed restrictions on Saturday, pouring into the CBD’s Bourke St Mall.
After weeks of near-empty streets, the city on Saturday looked more like it did in pre-COVID-19 times.
While not all shops have reopened, people were still happy to get out of their homes and into the sunshine.
The only signs of the coronavirus pandemic were face masks and some closed shop doors.
Police patrolled the street on foot.
Social distancing rules remain in place.
Restrictions now being enforced mean people can only leave their homes for five reasons: essential shopping, medical care and caregiving, exercise, work or education and visiting friends and family.
MORE TO CELEBRATE
Melbourne couple Natasha O’Brien and Leigh Costopoulos tied the knot on Saturday surrounded by their closest family members thanks to the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions to allow up to 10 people to attend weddings.
Despite the COVID-19 shutdown, the Fraser Rise couple never considered postponing.
“May 16 is the date we met five years ago,” Ms O’Brien said. “It is our anniversary date.”
The relaxing of COVID-19 gathering rules this week saw the couple quickly hit the phone to tell their parents they could now attend their wedding service, which was conducted by Channel 10 personality and registered civil celebrant Mike Larkan at their home on Saturday.
“We were so pleased to be able to call our parents and family members and tell them they could attend. That meant a lot to us and to them,” Ms O’Brien said.
They plan to hold a bigger celebration next year once friends from further afield can join them.
GOING WITH THE FLOW ON THE RIVER
Bars and restaurants may still be shut but the recent lifting of COVID-19 restrictions on
boating means romance can now set sail.
Small groups of friends can also catch up over a wine, drink in city views and “get on the beers”, even if it is from the chilly middle of Melbourne’s Yarra River.
GoBoat Melbourne’s Ollie Swan said the Docklands’ hire boat business had closed for two months before reopening to the public on Friday “with a fair few restrictions in place” to protect staff and customers.
Even in the cold weather, a two-hour sail down the Yarra River “wrapped in blankets and sipping mulled wine” made for a romantic date or fun get-together with family members or a few close friends, he said.
BANQUET AT HOME IS JUST THE TICKET
Swapping Zoom catch-ups for a dinner party with friends was the best way to toast the easing of restrictions, Brighton couple Janey Francis and Steven Simos said.
The pair had five of their closest friends over last night for spiced lamb shanks, cheesecake and some special wine.
“It’s a chance to get out the nice china and the nice crystal to celebrate a little bit of freedom,” Ms Francis said. “It’s a bit of stress cooking for guests but it’s so exciting to have someone at the front door and have them walk inside.”
The group kicked off the party with fireside negronis before tipping into a 2011 pinot noir and champagne.
Ms Francis, who has been working from home as a strategic leadership coach, said it was the first time in two months she had worn high heels.
“It’s nice to do something a bit sophisticated.”
She said the next thing she was most looking forward to was going out to a restaurant.
“We frequent a few local restaurants and I’m really looking forward to being able to support them again,” she said.