MILDURA Regional Development (MRD) says there are no signs that the coronavirus outbreak will affect Sunraysia’s bumper Easter weekend.
MRD chief executive Brett Millington said that while COVID-19 may have affected international travel, last week’s Labour Day long weekend showed that people were still prepared to travel to holiday destinations within Australia.
And he said regional areas were more likely to attract visitor attention due to the recent bushfires and their remoteness.
Mr Millington said most accommodation in Mildura over the long weekend was booked out and he expected the historically bumper Easter weekend would be “business as usual”.
“Certainly, over the weekend the indication was that everyone was booked out so there were significant numbers around,” he said.
“If anything, there’s probably been a little bit of an increase because of the programs being run nationally around the theme Holiday Here This Year and promoting that.
“People aren’t travelling internationally, but if you look at Mildura over the weekend accommodation was pretty much chockers.
“There were people out everywhere, so there was a lot happening.”
Mr Millington said the bushfire recovery and Tourism Australia and Tourism Victoria campaigns encouraging people to visit regional Victoria were also having a positive impact.
“I know that all of our bed-and-breakfast properties are booked out at Easter already so that translates to a significant number of people coming to Mildura,” he said.
“Unless there was suddenly a massive spike in the number of cases, there’s been no indication that visitor numbers at Easter will be any different this year.
“Certainly the Show and Shine has all been planned, as have all the other events,” he said.
Mr Millington said Mildura’s “perceived isolation” in terms of distance could also be viewed as a strategic barrier in terms of coronavirus.
“At our Taste Better Walk promotion at the weekend we had visitors from the US, visitors from Canberra, people from Sydney and Adelaide, and the first four people who booked for the event were from Port Pirie.
“I’d also like to think there’s an element of the promotion of our region as a destination point and capitalising on that.”
Mildura Council calls Easter outlook ‘positive’
MILDURA councillor Mark Eckel says he is taking a “positive outlook” on tourism this Easter long weekend despite growing coronavirus COVID-19 fears.
Sunraysia welcomes thousands of visitors each Easter who come to enjoy the many events spread over the long weekend, including the Show and Shine, Mildura 100 and the Australian AMCA Title.
Cr Eckel said while he had been monitoring the situation from a tourism and economic development perspective, he was more concerned about panic buying in the community and misinformation circulating.
“We haven’t recorded the problem up here yet, so I think it’s probably unnecessary at this point in time to panic,” he said.
“I’ve actually seen people experience the heartache of having children at home and not being able to find or purchase any toilet paper. That’s a real concern.”
While finding toilet paper on supermarket shelves remains a challenge, the high level of booked-out accommodation options across Sunraysia is a positive sign the coronavirus is not deterring visitors.
The majority of Sunraysia’s holiday resorts, hotels and caravan parks are already at capacity over the long weekend, according to the Visit Mildura booking site.
“I think this is the location where people will be heading and I think regional Victoria might be at a gain,” Cr Eckel said.
“We’re also finding that people are coming up here and exploring regional Australia more now that they’re conscious about the current limitations and concerns with overseas travel.
“We have to look at the positive nature of things.”
Cr Glenn Milne has also adopted a positive approach and said he hoped Easter in Sunraysia would be “as usual”.
“I’d like to think people will still come and we will still get the big numbers,” he said.
“No doubt there will be some that stay away … but I’m hoping most of our visitors and community members will turn up and it will be Easter as usual.”
Cr Milne urged the Sunraysia community to be sensible and listen to information from health officials.
“Yes, there’s panic right across the globe, but is it an overreaction? Just look at the toilet paper issue,” he said.
“We just need to use commonsense practices and listen to the Health Department and the government.”
No need to limit movement, says council
MILDURA Council is reviewing its business continuity plan to ensure it has the appropriate measures in place should there be a case of coronavirus in the region.
The council is a major sponsor of numerous events scheduled for the Easter long weekend and emphasised in a statement on its website that residents should not limit their movement in the community.
“Currently there is no evidence of transmission of novel coronavirus in our community or Victoria so you should continue to go about your business,” the statement said.
“The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services is working with health services, the Commonwealth and international agencies to respond to the outbreak of coronavirus and keep Victorians safe.
“The situation is changing rapidly and Mildura Rural City Council is continuing to monitor it.”
