MAKE OCEAN ROAD GREAT AGAIN
CORONA FIGHTBACK: Take a trip and help our region’s battling tourist operators
GEELONG locals are being urged to hit the Great Ocean Road as the tourism icon struggles with a downturn in Chinese visitors due to the deadly coronavirus. It has been estimated the coronavirus crisis could cost the region millions of dollars in lost earnings, but tourism leaders are urging Geelong residents to explore the world-famous coastline.
The call to action comes after Tourism Australia launched the Holiday Here This Year campaign to encourage domestic tourism in the wake of the devastating bushfires.
GEELONG locals are being urged to hit the Great Ocean Road as the tourism icon struggles with a downturn in Chinese visitors due to the deadly coronavirus.
It has been estimated the coronavirus crisis could cost the region millions of dollars in lost earnings, but tourism leaders are urging Geelong residents to explore the worldfamous coastline.
The call to action comes after Tourism Australia launched the ‘ Holiday Here This Year’ campaign to encourage domestic tourism in the wake of the devastating bushfires.
Accommodation providers along the Great Ocean Road are being hit with cancellations following foreign nationals coming from mainland China being temporarily banned from entering Australia.
The global coronavirus death toll yesterday reached more than 600, but no cases have been confirmed in the Geelong region.
Visitation to the Twelve Apostles is significantly down, according to Parks Victoria, and traffic restrictions in place to deal with an expected influx of tourists were abandoned.
“Anecdotally, compared to previous years, we have seen significantly fewer visitors to the Twelve Apostles over the Chinese New Year period,” area chief ranger Michael Smith said.
“As a result, we began to scale back our traffic management operation in the week following the Australia Day long weekend.
“There is now no traffic management personnel operating at the Twelve Apostles precinct.”
Traffic management for the Chinese New Year period was initially scheduled to conclude on February 9.
Mr Smith encouraged people to get out and visit the state’s parks and reserves, and help to support Victoria’s regions.
Apollo Bay Bakery coowner Sally Cannon said there was “no doubt” there were less
Chinese visitors than they would usually expect.
“We’d be normally inundated with it being Chinese New Year but it’s significantly down,” she said.
But Ms Cannon said the town’s locals were looking forward to its iconic seafood festival coming up next weekend.
Colac-Otway Shire mayor Jason Schram urged Geelong residents to support the festival, with fishermen struggling due to exports to China being halted over coronavirus fears.
The region has experienced a tough run with the Wye River bushfires in 2015 and now feeling the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, he said.
“The seafood festival is a world-class event and we would love it if Geelong people came,” Cr Schram said.
“We call on fellow Australians to get out and explore your own backyard, and stop and shop if you can.”
Tourism Minister Martin Pakula said the State Government was encouraging people to get out and experience the beauty of the Great Ocean Road.
“The Great Ocean Road is one of our most popular tourist regions and operators will be feeling the impact of the entry ban,” Mr Pakula said. “Go for a paddleboat ride on the Anglesea River, check out Live Wire Park at Lorne or head down to the Apollo Bay Seafood Festival next weekend.”
Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine executive director Brett Ince urged locals to invite friends and relatives down to showcase the region.