It’s going to be a bumpy ride
TOURISM LEADERS WARN: STRAP YOURSELVES IN …
TOURISM leaders are bracing for a “bumpy ride” in Port Douglas despite an expected bounce in bookings over Christmas.
Douglas Shire businesses have been busy preparing for an onslaught of visitors when the borders finally open to Queensland on December 17, with occupancy sitting at around 75 per cent from then until the new year, and it’s expected to increase.
Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree chief executive officer Tara Bennett said that at this stage, hotels and accommodation were expected to dip back to 30 per cent of capacity from mid-January, similar to what was being experienced now.
“It’s going to be a bumpy ride to Easter 2022 and what we hope will finally be a period of consistent high visitation,” she said.
Slow vaccine rates, growing concerns over staff levels and availability, and the potential for localised lockdowns are going to add to the challenge, according to Ms Bennett.
The Douglas Shire is hovering around 65 per cent of its population who have received two doses.
Port Douglas publican and
business owner Danny Gray, who runs the Rattle N Hum and Patty’s Irish Bar and Grill along with two backpacker hotels, urged everyone in the community to get fully vaccinated.
He warned the virus was coming, “whether you like it or not”, when thousands of Victorian and New South Wales holiday-makers arrive in the region.
“Covid is definitely coming
to town, we have got no choice there,” he said.
“It’s everyone’s choice whether they have the vaccine or not, but Covid will be here.
“You’re going to be exposed to it whether you have had the vaccine or not.
“Elderly people are at risk, my mum is at risk, so the more protection we have, you are protecting the ones close to us as well.”
Port Douglas Water Sports and Hire owner Kelvin Brown at Four Mile Beach said a high volume of the population being jabbed would prevent restrictions being imposed.
“Do it for your friends, family and businesses,” he said. “It is so much better than not (being vaccinated) because we can’t do lockdowns anymore.”
Ms Bennett, who also sits
on the Tourism Tropical North Queensland board, said finding and training staff in the town remained a concern given the lack of international hospitality workers usually at hand.
“As soon as the Queensland road map was released we saw businesses kick off a recruitment drive in anticipation of the pick-up in bookings for the Christmas period,” she said.