Tourists may think global but they’re acting local

Regional towns that have benefitted from day-tripping city dwellers should not fear the introduction of international travel bubbles, tourism experts say.

Brazilians Leticia de Souza Rodrigues and husband Guil Guedes, Gold Coast residents for the past five years, ride quads during a weekend break at Tangalooma Island Resort. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Towns that have benefited from the day-tripping and overnight stays of city dwellers should not fear the introduction of international travel bubbles, tourism ­experts say.

Country and coastal towns within a two-hour radius of capital cities were swamped by tourists following the lifting of restrictions in May — a trend that is still going strong in light of border closures.

The long-awaited travel bubble with New Zealand and a few select states and territories, namely NSW, the Northern Territory and ACT, was announced on Friday. While the one-way deal allows tourists from New Zealand to enter without mandatory quarantine on arrival, the decision opens the door to similar deals.

Senior lecturer of tourism at University of Technology Sydney’s Business School David Beirman said it was unlikely people would be rushing to book an international holiday any time soon, with many choosing the safety of their own backyard for the foreseeable future.

“From a national perspective, there’s been a lot of intrastate travel for the simple reason that there has been no other option.” he said.

The Rodrigues making the most of local tourist hot spots during the covid period. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“We have this incredible situation where people want to travel and the bug is biting, which is forcing people to explore their own backyard.

“Regional NSW, Queensland and Victoria have been doing a very good job at letting people know what they have to offer.”  Restaurants in the NSW Blue Mountains, southern highlands and south coast town of Berry have been bustling. It is a similar scene on the other side of the country, with West Australian areas such as Rockingham, Mandurah, Avon Valley, Chittering and the Perth Hills bursting with locals rediscovering the region.

The islands dotting the southeast Queensland and hinterland towns of the Sunshine and Gold coasts have been gaining traction.

“(Travel bubbles) may impact regional tourism in the long term, but short term I don’t think people will be rushing to New Zealand” Dr Beirman said. “It will definitely be a gradual change and I don’t think regional Australia should be panicking yet.”

Leticia de Souza Rodrigues and her husband Guil Guedes used Queensland’s long weekend to make a long-awaited trip to Tangalooma Island Resort, on Moreton Island, off the coast east of Brisbane. The couple is typical of the hordes making the most of local tourist hotspots during the COVID period.

“Our weekend plan was to get out, have good experiences, chill on the beach and see the shipwrecks,” Mr Guedes said.

The Brazilians are keen international travellers but have used the lockdown to explore their now home country, having moved to the Gold Coast five years ago.

They are looking forward to more trips in the coming months now that their eight-month-old son, Levi, is old enough to bring along.

“We like Queensland, it is a beautiful state. We always find somewhere else to go,” Mr Guedes said.

On Saturday, the Queensland state government announced $5m in grants to support regional Queensland tourism operators who have struggled through the pandemic. The grants of up to $10,000 are designed to help those who have suffered significant ­impacts from the border closures to pivot their business models ­towards the domestic market.