Olinda’s The Cuckoo restaurant latest to feel tourist pinch after coronavirus outbreak
The Dandenong Ranges’ most famous restaurant is the latest to be hit by dwindling tourist numbers in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. But the restaurant’s management has a message for locals.
Outer East
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A Yarra Ranges tourist hotspot is the latest to be hit by the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak with bookings plummeting.
German-inspired tourist mecca, The Cuckoo, reported it had lost about 1000 bookings, mostly from international tourists
Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader last week reported the brakes had been put on popular hills tourist attractions during their peak season thanks to bushfire smoke and the coronavirus.
When Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader visited Mt Dandenong’s SkyHigh this week it was virtually empty — the number of bus arrivals has dropped from four a day to one a week,
while popular B&Bs and other accommodation business have also copped a drop in bookings.
Yarra Valley growers, makers and farmers are also feeling the pinch and working together to try and attract tourist back to the region.
An impromptu Fruits of the Valley Festival selling was held at Rayners Orchard in Wandin North last weekend to try and boost visitor numbers.
The Cuckoo’s manager, Andrei Koeppen, said the drop in tour groups had affected the restaurant with about 1000 cancellations so far.
While the international tour groups visit many Victorian businesses including The Cuckoo, Puffing Billy, Healesville Sanctuary and Phillip Island, they were now hampered by the China travel ban.
“It has an impact on the community as well because we have to reduce our shifts for staff,” Mr Koeppen said.
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PUFFING BILLY CANCELS SERVICES DUE TO LOW TOURIST NUMBERS
He said many locals still came for lunch and dinner, but encouraged Melburnians to visit the Dandenong Ranges and treat themselves to a meal.
“We’ll still muddle through,” Mr Koeppen said.
“It would be good to see locals come and see what we have to offer.”