BUCKLE UP FOR SUMMER
NEWS that airlines and high- end hotels are experiencing strong summer bookings for Tasmania will be a huge relief for many businesses in the struggling hospitality sector. As reported in the Sunday Tasmanian, the state can expect a surge in visitors over the holiday period as Hobart Airport ramps up flights to about 80 per cent of preCOVID levels. It’s easy to see why.
Tassie is one of those bucket- list destinations that many Australians would have had in the back of their minds over the years and there has been plenty of time to plan a trip during the pandemic lockdown.
Our pristine wilderness, uncrowded beaches as well as a relaxed and friendly lifestyle have gained us a reputation the world over. And you can add to that our excellent food and wine, top- class golf courses and mountain bike parks and adventure tourism options. All this is wrapped up in a state with relatively shorter travel distances making us the perfect holiday mix.
The next challenge will be to ensure that our tourism infrastructure is up to capacity. Do we have enough staff to service the hotels? Are there hire cars available? Are there enough events for people to attend?
The Taste of Tasmania and Falls Festival, both now cancelled, had provided a major tourist focal point over the Christmas- New Year period. Mona, with its cruise- to- the- front door service, attracted thousands of tourists over the busy summer season but the tourist drawcard was closed in mid- March and is yet to announce when it will be back running at full capacity.
There is room for others to step in and some are doing just that.
Music fans will be pleased to hear that an all- day Boxing Day concert will be held at the Botanical Gardens with a capacity for 1000 fans. The Red Hot Summer concert series also returns to the state in March.
Of course our tourism recovery will be dependent on no serious COVID- 19 hiccups along the way.
Tasmania and the rest of Australia has worked hard to contain the pandemic, so let’s continue to stay the course so all those sacrifices are not wasted.
The virus continues to rage across the world and with repatriation flights back into Australia, it is likely that there will be cases brought back into the country.
A significant number of those may be asymptomatic so we cannot assume the virus will be easy to detect.
But there are a few basic measures which we all know by now to keep us safe.
Get tested and stay away from work if you get any symptoms. Wash your hands regularly and practise good hygiene, keep your social distance — especially among people you don’t know — and leave your contact details when you enter an establishment such as a nightclub or restaurant.
It’s a small price to pay. If we all hang in there, we can look forward to a fun and relaxing summer.