Orford tourism goes from bust to boom this school holidays

The state government tourism voucher scheme has seen Orford accommodation go from bust to boom following a disastrous last school holiday period during the Tasman Highway road closures.

The tide has turned for the beachside tourist town of Orford which suffered during the last school holidays due to road closures but now has accommodation services booking up quickly.

With school holidays starting this weekend the township is feeling more positive, after some accommodation providers reported an 80 per cent loss of trade several months ago due to the six week Tasman Highway closure from May to July.

Orford Blue Waters Hotel have had a “massive past week” and are close to booked out for the school holiday period after a rocky period several months ago.

“When the highway closed we really struggled, our business dropped 75-80 per cent over the weekend and 50 per cent during the week, but now we’ve only got a few rooms left and no doubt they will fill up too,” barman Peter Willis said.

Blue Waters Hotel manager Alan Burdon at Orford. Picture: Chris Kidd

Eastcoaster Tasmania is also flat out preparing for the weekend with 75 per cent of rooms already booked for the holidays.

Receptionist Kiki Dowling said the state government’s tourism voucher scheme had helped over the past few months.

The $7.5 million second round of the scheme has been extended to October 31 and has seen 25,000 Tasmanians receive a $300 voucher to be used in the state, with $200 available for multiple purchases of accommodation and $100 for touring and attraction experiences.

Owner of Orford’s Sanda House Colonial B&B Fiona Merhulik said the boutique accommodation had seen about 16 groups of people through redeeming the voucher in the August to September period.

Owner of Orford’s Sanda House Colonial B&B Fiona Merhulik.

“The day the vouchers were released we had three bookings in a day which is really unusual even in the peak season, so the vouchers have been very successful for us,” Mrs Merhulik said.

“I think people like to come here and have a relaxing stay for the accommodation side then they can go to Maria Island for the day and that’s the experience side.”