Tasmanian tour operator looking to recruit staff to meet demand

Business was “non-existent” during most of the COVID-19 crisis, but with borders now open to major mainland states a Tasmanian tour operator is experiencing a resurgence in bookings and is looking to recruit staff to meet demand.

WEEKS of record bookings is spurring on a Tasmanian tour operator to continue its expansion plans despite business being “non-existent” during most of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Tasmanian Walking Company lost months of bookings and staff and then relied on the federal government’s JobKeeper scheme to keep other employees as revenue halted earlier this year.

But with borders now open to major mainland states Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, the company is experiencing a resurgence in bookings and is looking to recruit staff to meet demand.

Guides from the Tasmanian Walking Company, Clare Jacobson and Angus Hine. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“We’ve had a run of six or seven record weeks of bookings, it’s just been amazing,” TWC general manager Heath Garratt said.

“We’ve really tailored our marketing campaign to the domestic market and even more so to the Tassie market when we couldn’t have anyone from interstate join us.

“Australians can’t travel internationally at the moment… so I think we are reaping the rewards of that.”

Tasmanian Walking Company Walk With Heart Three Capes Walk

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Mr Garrett said the company is undergoing a recruitment drive to fill a shortage of guides and other positions, including hosts and administration, as many staff chose to leave the tourism and hospitality sector due to the lack of security during COVID-19.

He said the recent launch of a shorter three-day Three Capes Walk option as well as plans for an almost $500,000 replacement upgrade to the Bay of Fires Forester Beach Camp, opened in 2017, gave TWC renewed optimism for the future.

“Because of COVID, we talked about how maybe now’s not the right time, but everyone was pretty keen to plough ahead and it’s pretty exciting because it’s going to give that experience a bit of a boost,” he said.

“Our biggest source of referrals is word of mouth so if we’re finding a lot of Australians travelling in their own backyard and coming to Tassie, they’re going to tell their friends, what a great time it is, and want to come for a walk with us or with other walking operators.”

Wilma Aherne and friend Bronwyn Gardner during the Tasmanian Walking Company Walk with Heart Three Capes Walk. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The next project will be upgrading five huts on the Overland Track at Cradle Mountain.

“With the really strong bookings that we are currently seeing, I’ve got confidence that we’ll be able to bounce back from our current financial situation, and then also be financially sound enough to make those sorts of projects work,” Mr Garratt said.

“There is still the whole COVID thing to deal with, and the changes to operational procedures complicating things a bit.

“But then, off into the distance, we just love seeing people get out and enjoying these national parks in the best of times, but even better now, while you can’t travel abroad.”

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