Open up and let good times roll The threat of a second wave of COVID-19 is real, but that could happen whether we invite grey nomads and vigilant tourists across our borders or not
WHAT are you afraid of Mr Gunner?
That a convoy of grey nomads will tear up the red dirt like a bus load of Contiki tour revellers on their boozy vacay, moving from one exciting city to the next each day?
That the retirees will be shoulder to shoulder playing beer pong in camp kitchens all over the Territory?
That there’ll be caravan convoys moving from park to park every day?
The reality of opening borders soon (let’s say August for argument’s sake) is stranded happy campers will be able to get on their way and the eager, regular mid-year travellers will hit the road to find their slice of paradise where they’ll park up for weeks on end.
Mary and Bert will enjoy a chardy and a tinnie with some Jatz and cheese at 5pm religiously every night – some nights they’ll invite Pete and
Joyce around for a tipple. But they’ll be behind their van doors by 8pm to prepare for another day of glorious sunshine in the safest place in Australia.
Then there’ll be the racegoers and car lovers who will jump on a plane, whatever brand is flying, and pay whatever price it takes to make it to the NT for our biggest events of the year.
They’ll stay in hotels, drink in pubs, buy souvenirs for the family members shivering down south and eat out for at least two meals a day.
Our streets won’t be crowded, they’ll be vibrant.
Our coffee shops won’t be bulging with people, they’ll be pleasantly bustling with strangers having conversations about how they got through that darn 2020 pandemic.
Visitors to the NT will know how dangerous the coronavirus is and the importance of so