Regional tourism buoyed by Easter bounce, however winter is coming

Mr Porter said many in the industry feared that Victorians would book vacations in other states by taking advantage of half-price airfare.

While The regional vacation sector has flourished Over the past few months, Porter said Melbourne’s tourism-related businesses were seriously injured.

“It’s a two-course economy right now.”

Rick Bischoff, acting managing director of BIG4 Holiday Parks, said the upcoming Easter holidays in regional Victoria are “very positive”.

He said the popular parks on the coast are “pretty busy” while those on the Murray River are also doing well.

“We are very pleased that the Victorians are deciding to do a little bit of exploring their own garden,” he said.

“There are a lot of great destinations out there. Hopefully it will go on for some time. “

But Mr Bischoff said travelers are still cautious, city parks are quiet, and Victorians are reluctant to travel between states for fear of border closings.

“People go to the border, but no further.”

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Steve Wroe, General Manager of Daylesford Macedon Tourism, said Easter marked the start of the busy time in the area.

“Easter is always very busy up here because all over the region we are blessed with all these gardens that change color,” he said.

“Usually it’s the start of our busy days.”

Mr Wroe said the summer period was also “miles and miles” the busiest due to pent-up demand.

The accommodations in the Daylesford area were 95 percent occupied, in Kyneton, Woodend and Macedon 80 percent.

Mr. Wroe was confident that businesses in the Daylesford-Macedon area would survive the coming months thanks to the busy winter trade.

But he said indebted companies could have trouble elsewhere. “I think some of the more vulnerable companies will be at risk.”

Peter Chiller, co-owner of Lancefield Guesthouse, said tourism is “booming” in the Macedon Ranges.

“The Macedon Ranges did very well in the sense that a lot of people who didn’t know we were here came out because we were so close to Melbourne,” he said.

Mr. Chiller’s business had received JobKeeper earlier this year but stopped when business began to improve.

Peter and Kate Chiller at their guest house in Lancefield on Friday. They say that tourism is “booming” in the Macedon Ranges.Recognition:Eddie Jim

He said more and more people are moving to the Macedon Ranges, which gives him the confidence to open a microbrewery and restaurant that he will begin building next month. “We just think it’s a great opportunity.”

In Anglesea, Damien Cerantonio, owner of the Great Ocean Road Resort, said bookings were strong during the Easter break.

“The unknown is what happens after the school holidays,” he said.

But Mr Cerantonio said there are signs that corporate clients may be returning soon.

“We’re seeing the number of conference requests increasing, which is a positive sign.”

He said the company would survive JobKeeper’s phasing out, especially if Victorians continued to feel confident about traveling locally, but doing so would add financial pressure.

However, Mr Cerantonio believed that tourism businesses at the end of the Great Ocean Road that relied on international travelers would be more at risk without JobKeeper.

“The end of JobKeeper could be disastrous.”

Wayne Kayler-Thomson, chairman of regional tourism on the Great Ocean Road, said the Loss of the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition Bells Beach would be less crowded this year, but the coast would still be popular with vacationers at Easter.

Mariel Sloane, General Affairs Manager of Cleveland Winery, on Friday.Recognition:Eddie Jim

“We expect the entire surf coast to be busy and probably Colac Otway as well,” he said.

Bess Nolan-Cook, managing director of Tourism North-East, said demand for accommodation had been “great” but many business owners were exhausted and worked longer hours because they had difficulty finding staff.

Mariel Sloane, general affairs manager at Cleveland Winery, said the in-store accommodation is fully booked for Good Friday and Easter Saturday.

However, she said the end of JobKeeper raised some concerns about whether Victorians had enough disposable income to spend on vacation.

“People may not know where they’ll be in a few weeks,” she said.

“But we always hope to get her out of here.”

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Benjamin is the regional editor for The Age. Previously, he was a reporter for State Rounds and has also covered education for The Age.

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