Rivals step in to fill Schoolies void

The age of corona has got worse for Year 12 students, with Schoolies on the Gold Coast cancelled, but rival destinations are sensing an opportunity.

Accommodation Association chief executive Dean Long says with borders closed, people are turning to schoolies experiences in their own states.

The age of corona has got worse for Year 12 students, with Schoolies on the Gold Coast cancelled, but rival destinations are sensing an opportunity.

Accommodation Association of Australia chief Dean Long said the announcement by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk would be a blow to jobs and tourism on the Gold Coast, but students would seek out alternatives.

“People used to look across borders for traditional Schoolies locations,” he said. “With the closed borders, they are now looking for experiences and destinations in their own states.”

He said NSW towns such as Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Batemans Bay would likely be popular. “Those styles of places are all experiencing a higher level of interest around Schoolies time,” he said. “There was a significant spike in those looking for destinations outside of the Gold Coast.”

Destination Byron president David Jones said Byron Bay would welcome school leavers who wanted an experience that was “more spacious”, “warmer” and “less dense” than the Gold Coast model.

“The backpacking industry has dissipated since COVID kicked in,” Mr Jones said. “The youth market has a really strong position in our region so we welcome them with open arms.”

Destination Port Stephens CEO Eileen Gilliland also said for “schoolies who want to get away with a small group of friends and enjoy the great outdoors” Port Stephens was perfect.

Tim Booth, tourism and events manager for the Eurobodalla Shire Council on the NSW south coast, said students deserved a celebration after a stressful year.

“If they are looking for a ­nature-based experience to ­escape … the challenges 2020 brought, that’s great and that’s what Eurobodalla offers,” he said.

While Ms Palaszczuk announced on Friday mass events associated with Schoolies would not be permitted this year, school leavers would be allowed to celebrate in small groups in ­accommodation booked close to where they lived.

“We always listen to the health advice and the Chief Health Officer has deemed the event of Schoolies — it is a mass event over multiple days — is high risk so the Schoolies that we have come to know over the years will not be able to go ahead in that form this year,” Ms Palaszczuk said.