Holiday boom, but at a cost
THE AFL Grand Final eve public holiday has proved a boon locally for short-term accommodation providers and tourist operators, but some traders say they have been left out of pocket.
The holiday, introduced by the State Government last year, has again sparked concerns about penalty rates, and many MPs have called for it to be scrapped.
But, despite this, some local operators have reported excellent tourist trade, especially with the combination of the school holidays and the public holiday.
Owner and operator at Beacon Big 4 in Queenscliff, Lorraine Golightly, said the park was at capacity over the weekend with 1000 guests.
“It’s awesome for tourism, it really is. That’s why you have public holidays, to make people come away, but the cost of doing the business is not easy,” she said.
“The wages are killing us. It’s a day of trade where there’s no profit. By the time you pay for all of the labour, a lot of businesses close, but bigger businesses can’t afford to.
“It brings people in, even those not following the grand final are here for a three-day break. We’re to capacity for the weekend.”
On the Surf Coast, the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery at Bellbrae had about 3500 visitors yesterday, according to Leanne Neeland, owner and operator of the new business.
“It’s our first grand final weekend, we’re staffed up and there’s lots of smiles out there with everyone in their brand new uniforms doing lots of tastings,” she said.
Debra Bowers, business partner at Queenscliff and Coastal Holiday Bookings, manages about 50 holiday rentals across Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale but said she didn’t have the same volume of guests.
“The public holiday hasn’t made much of a difference, no more than it normally would over school holidays,” she said.
State Member for Western Victoria, Simon Ramsay, said local traders estimate losses between $4000 and $10,000 over the day. He said smaller businesses had to choose between closing or paying high wages with an entire day’s loss of sales. “This disaster has an economic cost to Victoria of up to $878 million.” he said.