Everyone’s welcome

Tourism boss urges reconnection with region

INVITING family and friends to visit the region and stay in accommodation will help revive our stalled tourism industry, Geelong’s tourism boss says.

Following the State Government’s decision to reboot overnight accommodation, caravan parks and campgrounds from June 1, Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine executive director Brett Ince said providers should develop “recover and reconnect” packages.

“There will be lots of people out there that want multiple short breaks over this period,” Mr Ince said.

“We receive about 6.4 million visitors per annum to Geelong and the Bellarine and out of that about 8 per cent are international tourists.

“The majority of our visitation does come from Melbourne. About 3.2 million visitors visit our region for friends and relatives.”

Premier Daniel Andrews announced on the weekend that overnight stays could resume at private residences, accommodation providers such as motels and hotels, as well as camping grounds and caravan parks from June 1. But communal facilities such as kitchens or bathrooms would need to remain closed.

Lon Retreat & Spa owner Claire Gemes said she was keen to reopen the Point Lonsdale business but would wait an extra month until July 1.

“A lot of people just really want to escape the city and find space and the fresh ocean air. I have a feeling we will be just as busy if not busier than before the lockdown,” she said.

“People will be looking to have escapes that are within the reach of Melbourne but just enough that they can come away while still feeling safe.”

She said staff on JobKeeper had worked during the lockdown to change menus and other offerings at the sevenroom mineral pool and spa facility.

“If you laid dormant it would have been hard to start up again,” she said.

Mr Ince expected it would be about 12 months before the region’s tourism industry recovered to levels pre-lockdown and urged those planning a wedding to look at Geelong and the Bellarine. He said his organisation would reach out to each of its 600 members to help them navigate a way out of the coronavirus lockdown.

In a survey run by TGGB last month, which received 117 responses from operators including accommodation, hospitality and tour businesses, half of the respondents said they had closed while 43 per cent said they were taking in less than 10 per cent of their usual trade.