Loosen up: Tourist operators urge more easing on COVID-19 rules

CORONAVIRUS restrictions may have eased in regional Victoria compared to Melbourne, but Geelong and the Bellarine’s tourism industries say the state government’s “one size fits all” approach has not gone far enough to restore confidence for both operators and customers.

After seven days of lockdown, restrictions outside of Melbourne loosened on Friday last week to no longer require face masks outside, no restrictions on movement and the opening of all retail.

Restaurants, pubs, cafes and wineries were allowed to open for seated dine-in service with a maximum cap of 50 people across the entire venue.

The Sharp Group director Lyndsay Sharp said the state government had offered no explanation for the “rigid” 50-patron limit – which also applies to outdoor recreation and sport, outdoor tourism venues, and creative studios – and it was hitting hard at her venues Jack Rabbit Vineyard, Leura Park Estate, Flying Brick Cider Co, Curlewis Golf Club and The Range @ Curlewis, which had opened mostly to keep casual staff employed.

“I’d say medium to large venues statewide are bewildered by that because it doesn’t make sense. It should be, at a bare minimum, one person per 4 sqm.

“Hospitality needs a chance for survival and they’re making it very difficult. It’s not sustainable for our business to stay open at a 50-patron capacity, we can’t afford to reinstate all our great casuals, it’s very difficult to meet overheads because they don’t go away.”

She said her weekly overheads across the board were $220,000, and the state government’s rollout of nearly $500 million in business support during this lockdown was “enough to keep the lights on but not much else”.

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine (TGGB) executive director Brett Ince said he was “extremely disappointed” that Victoria had entered a fourth lockdown.

“We know seven days doesn’t mean just seven days because it takes a long time for confidence to come back, and to get back to where we were in the COVID Normal restrictions.

“What we’re hoping for is that when Melbourne takes this next step, regional Victoria’s restrictions are loosened once again as well.”

He said Victoria’s third lockdown in February had hit hard, but businesses had generated a level of confidence and momentum towards recovery since then.

“While the seven days (May 28-June 3) wasn’t during an absolute peak period, it’s meant that consumer confidence has been rocked once again.”

Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Ben Flynn said it was “heartbreaking” the usual boom for businesses over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend would not happen.

“The headline is that regional Victoria has opened up, but there’s limits on how many patrons can be in hospitality venues, caravan parks don’t even know if they can open – there’s still a trail of restrictions that make it really hard for businesses.”

On Tuesday this week, Acting Premier James Merlino said both Melbourne and regional Victoria were “on track” to have COVID-19 restrictions eased further at the end of this week.

Ms Sharp is hoping for considerable good news.

“I think collectively, as an industry, everyone in hospitality, tourism, experiential accommodation and accommodation have their fingers crossed,” she said.

Mr Ince said TGGB was “absolutely aligned” with his sector’s peak body, the Victorian Tourism Industry Council, on the need for a roadmap to re-open both Victoria’s regional and metropolitan visitor economies as soon as possible.