Domestic tourists not as flush as internationals as restart date yet to be determined

A stallholder at the Salamanca markets is “dubious” domestic tourists will spend as much money as internationals as uncertainty surrounds when the famed attraction will reopen.

THE reopening of Hobart’s iconic waterfront markets is still months away, as stallholders reveal crippling income losses with virtual stalls attracting as little as two visitors.

The last Salamanca Market was held on March 14 with the event officially cancelled indefinitely on March 18.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said Hobart City Council “can’t put a date” on the iconic market’s relaunch, with the recovery roadmap’s stage three – due on July 13 – allowing only 100 people at a gathering.

“If that maximum was applied to the market, it would not even cover the stallholders,” she said.

She said the council would plan a smooth transition back to physical markets “when the time is right”.

The future of the Salamanca Market is uncertain, with Hobart’s Lord Mayor stating they will reopen “when the time is right”. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

She said it would take some time to reach pre-pandemic attendance.

“We are very keen to see the market back up and running but, at this stage, we can’t put a date on when that will be,” she said.

“There are many factors that need to be taken into account around attendance numbers, physical distancing and public health advice.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has marked mid-July as the beginning of the domestic travel ban lift as Tasmania’s tourism industry grows desperate for visitors.

Premier Peter Gutwein has so far refused to set a date for reopening Tasmania’s borders to domestic travel.

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MARKET GOES VIRTUAL AMID EXTENDED CLOSURE

Geoff Dugan, of Dr Garlic, said the breather from Salamanca had been good, but financially tough. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Geoff Dugan said his family business Dr Garlic pulled their stalls from both Salamanca and Farm Gate markets when COVID-19 hit to protect his wife Mahni, whose chronic respiratory condition heightened her risk.

He said times were hard for his wife and son Jesse, whose livelihood as an actor was also under threat.

“It’s been a considerable diminution of business,” he said.

“The breather has been good, but it has been tough.”

He said their virtual Salamanca stall was just getting started after technical difficulties, with a Farm Gate online stall also in the works.

He said their Facebook page and email were gaining momentum with loyal local, interstate and overseas customers.

“At Salamanca, a lot of the overseas tourists wouldn’t always buy our things because they were travelling by plane, but interstate tourists would and that’s where we’re getting a lot of our online business now,” he said.

“If all goes as the government said it will, domestic tourism will be the first thing to open up.

“That will be our major source for the next two years.

“We’re definitely going to take a dive, but one way or another we will get through it.”

Cr Reynolds said the Salamanca Market online store had so far attracted 9500 unique users from Australia, the US, UK, Hong Kong, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.

John Martin said his Woodfired Pottery virtual stall had attracted only two visitors during COVID-19, with his personal website attracting zero sales, resulting in a loss of 80 per cent of his income.

“I’m in a position to live on savings for a while,” he said.

“Without the international tourists, I’m somewhat dubious the domestic market will make up a great deal of the difference in the loss of income people are reliant on.”

He said he hoped to trade at Salamanca again soon, but said he was glad authorities were being cautious.