Liz Bell
ANYONE thinking about holidaying at some of the Wellington Shire’s popular tourism spots for Easter have probably left their planning too late, with lack of availability reflecting a post-lockdown travel frenzy.
The regional tourism boom has been helped by the state government’s travel voucher scheme, which has resulted in thousands of Victorians snaffling $200 vouchers since they were first made available in December 2020.
In January, the second round allocation of 40,000 vouchers was exhausted within 13 minutes of their released, forcing the government to announce an additional 30,000 vouchers because of the demand.
So far, more than 11,000 travel vouchers have been redeemed in Gippsland, according to Destination Gippsland, with at least $4.7 million spent by tourists in Phillip Island and greater Gippsland.
But vouchers or no vouchers, holiday makers are choosing Gippsland as their destination of choice.
Coastal venues in particular are being swamped with booking queries, but most have nothing left and are compiling waiting lists.
Charla Smith at the Port Albert Waterview Retreat said people from metropolitan areas made up the majority of travel inquiries, with constant visitors to the coastal town since the last lockdown ended.
Ms Smith said her three-bedroom property, which sleeps up to six, was booked out during the busy Labour day weekend, and like most other venues was booked out right through until after Easter.
She said the travel voucher scheme had undoubtedly helped to reinvigorate regional areas, but the surge in demand was also because people in urban areas were experiencing “cabin fever”.
Loch Sport real estate agent Renee Potts said all beach holiday accommodation managed by CShell Real Estate was booked out for the coming Easter break – and the phone was still ringing.
Eileen Grange, who owns a home stay property on the waterfront and manages a friend’s new apartment in the town, said bookings had been back-to-back since lockdown ended.
“Loch Sport is full of Airbnb-type accommodation, but they are all getting good bookings,” she said.
“The town has a lot to offer now, with the new supermarket, the pub doing a good trade and other places to service the tourist population, so it’s a great place for a break, and at the moment everyone seems to want to get away while they can.”
Further inland but close to the mountains, Glenmaggie and bush walking and riding tracks, the small timber town of Heyfield is also enjoying the holiday rush.
Many accommodation venues, such as the nine-roomed Railway Hotel, had a taste of things to come during the Labour Day weekend – one of the town’s busiest ever.
Proprietor Gael McGee said the hotel was booked out until after Easter, with hopeful holiday makers being added to the waiting list.
She said the tourism surge was fantastic for the region, adding Victorians were still hesitant to venture across borders.
“It’s been crazy,” Ms McGee said.
“People are just so keen to get away, and they still don’t feel comfortable travelling interstate in case the borders are shut again,” she said.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is advising holiday makers to have a “back-up” plan if popular camp grounds such as the Blue Pool (which was recently upgraded to include 16 new campsites), Bruntons Bridge, Toorongo Falls, and Coopers Creek, are too busy during the Easter break.
Destination Gippsland chief executive Terry Robinson said tourism employed more than 13,000 people across Gippsland, largely in small businesses.
“Our tourism and hospitality businesses have borne the brunt of bushfires followed by COVID restrictions,” he said.
“The busy summer season followed by strong long weekend and Easter bookings are fantastic news, but we had 1.8 million fewer visitors in 2020 than the previous year due to COVID, so tourism businesses will need plenty of support this year.
“While our focus at Destination Gippsland is primarily on encouraging people from outside of Gippsland to visit and stay overnight, we’d also really like to encourage locals to support local tourism businesses this year, particularly in the cooler months ahead.”
Mr Robinson said to ensure Gippsland was “front of mind” for Victorians planning a short break in autumn, Destination Gippsland had upped the ante in marketing during the coming months, and in partnership with Visit Victoria had produced a 16-page magazine promoting the region’s attractions.
The Victorian government is set to release its third round of travel vouchers, with registrations opening on March 30 at 10am for vouchers to be used between April 6 and May 31.
