Victoria’s tortured tourism sector begs for clarity
Victoria’s tourism sector is begging for clarity on when it can expect a flood of potential visitors to be freed from locked-down Melbourne, saying the uncertainty is like “water torture”.
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Victoria’s tourism sector is begging for clarity over when it can get moving again.
Despite consistently low case numbers in regional Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday made clear there were no imminent plans to ease travel restrictions from metropolitan Melbourne.
The decision came as a huge blow to the state’s struggling tourism sector, which is on track to lose $23 billion and 165,000 jobs as a result of the pandemic.
Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said operators were heartbroken at losing the chance to kickstart their recovery on Grand Final weekend.
The tourism body is pushing for travel restrictions from metropolitan Melbourne to be lifted by October 30 so families can visit and spend in the regions during the Melbourne Cup long weekend.
“The restrictions need to be lifted so the industry can get a good kickstart in their recovery,” Ms Mariani said.
“But if the answer is no — we won’t be able to re-open by then — we need to know. We are hanging on week by week … it’s like water torture. We have no idea how, when and to what level we will be able to reactivate.”
Big 4 Holiday Parks has more than $1 million worth of bookings for Melbourne Cup long weekend.
Chief executive Stephen Wright said most bookings were from families in Melbourne and could all be lost if restrictions were not lifted.
“These are small businesses that have had no cash flow for months and months and are now starting to get cash flow that will potentially be taken from them,” he said.
“We are confused. Our parks don’t know if they have to refund a million dollars. They need to know so they can try to replace them with regional bookings.
“Business is hurting and it’s devastating for families.”
Kryal Castle general manager Melissa Dimond said the Ballarat attraction was receiving just a quarter of its normal visitors.
“It’s been a lot quieter with only regional Victorians able to visit. Most of our market is in Melbourne,” she said.
“Once the restrictions are eased, that will give us a huge boost.”
But Halls Gap Zoo manager Mark Treweek said his visitor numbers were up on previous years.
“Since we reopened, regional Victorians have come out in numbers to support local tourism,” he said.
“After lockdown, everyone wants to get out.”
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