Tourism takes another big hit

Tourism in the region is expected to take a hit in light of recent COVID-19 restrictions.

The announcement of the closure of the VictoriaNSW border has left some local businesses unsure about customers and staff entering Victoria from NSW, while others have noted the usual influx of holiday traffic has been scuppered due to a lockdown placed on Melbourne postcodes.

Cobram East Caravan Park owner Wayne Harris has turned away people coming in from Melbourne hotspots, adding to the existing toll COVID-19 has had on his business.

‘‘It has been affecting us right back from Easter,’’ he said.

‘‘We have had to turn away people from those Melbourne postcodes and because of the uncertainly, we decided we wouldn’t be doing the deposits.

‘‘It was shaping up to be a good holiday period, but people are just too nervous to come out because of coronavirus. Everybody is paranoid at the moment.’’

The Victorian-NSW school holiday periods are a typically busy time for

❝It was shaping up to be a good holiday period, but people are just too nervous to come out because of coronavirus. Everybody is paranoid at the moment.❞

tourist destinations Moira Shire.

While patron numbers at Cactus Country have not been affected by the lockdown in Melbourne, owner Julie Hall was uncertain about what the border restrictions meant for the Strathmerton attraction.

‘‘It may affect some of our workers here who live in NSW,’’ she said.

‘‘We also do get customers coming down from Griffith, Finley, there are quite a few in that sort of area.

‘‘It just depends on how they are manning it; I think it definitely makes a difference, especially with NSW holidays just starting.’’

Cobram Colonial Motor Inn owner Nicole Smith said while they had not had any bookings from in postcodes placed under lockdown, she expected the border closure to have an impact on customers.

‘‘We get travellers from the NSW side, so if they can’t get across the border, I guess it will affect us,’’ she said.

However, some respite has been made available by the Victorian Government.

A $5 million support package has been put in place to help visitor economies throughout the state recover from cancelled bookings from the Melbourne hotspots.

Regional businesses, including motels, caravan parks and short-term rentals are eligible for up to $225 a night for cancelled bookings, with no cancellation fees charged to residents forced to stay home.