Fraser Coast Tourism CEO’s fears hot spot holiday-makers escaped ahead of SEQ lockdown

The tourism boss in the closest northern region to the SEQ lockdown says there’s signs many southern escapees headed here.

Tourism leaders say ‘bumper to bumper’ Bruce Highway traffic into the region at the weekend as thousands escaped the SEQ lockdown should be of great concern.

Fraser Coast Tourism and Events (FCTE) confirmed on Monday it received reports travel between Brisbane to Maryborough on Saturday (260kms), was taking up to eight hours amid the mass exodus.

It comes after FCTE cancelled Hervey Bay Whale Festival events planned for the weekend at the last minute.

FCTE Chief Executive Officer Martin Simons

FCTE Chief Executive Officer Martin Simons said many accommodation houses were “refusing bookings from people within the lockdown zones” but many thousands of people appeared to have ignored advice of health officials and headed north on Bruce Highway to escape the lock down.

“Some of these people are calling our accommodation venues – these are the ones we know about,” he said.

“Half of all visitors to the Fraser Coast in a year, more than 1.8 million people, are day trippers, these people arrive in region just for the day.

“Day trippers make up the biggest sector of annual Fraser Coast visitation and these people are totally unmonitored while in the region.”

The Hervey Bay Seafood Festival has also been cancelled.

“It is tough on the local community, but the postponement calls were made to ensure we weren’t providing an incentive for people in lockdown to make the trip and be standing cheek and jowl with locals”.

Originally published as Fraser Coast Tourism CEO’s fears hot spot holiday-makers escaped ahead of SEQ lockdown