Keeping tourists out in our own hands
0 comment

Keeping tourists out in our own hands

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has called on all accommodation house operators to “do the right thing” and cancel tourist bookings for the upcoming Easter holiday period.

“It is hard to say this, because we have been pleading for people to come and visit us after the fires and I’ve been at the forefront of that message, but with the Coronavirus threat, it has all changed and we simply don’t want metropolitan tourists this Easter.

“I know businesses are hurting and we generally rely on tourism season to keep our economy ticking over, but the threat is too great,” he said.

Mr Bull said he believed closing roads into the area was not required as this was a matter that could “be handled at this end”.

“If no accommodation house accepts tourist bookings and cancels the ones they have - and camping and caravan parks are closed - there will simply be nowhere for tourists to stay. It’s as simple as that.

“The only people who should be in our accommodation houses are essential services workers, or those in exceptional circumstances (eg bushfire victims or those escaping domestic violence).

“Closing access to East Gippsland via road blocks is problematic for several reasons. There are over a dozen access routes to be monitored and it will tie up critical police resources in what is a busy period for them, enforcing the various regulations that have come into place.

“It would also mean every driver of every vehicle would have to be stopped and interrogated and this would cause massive delays for critical freight deliveries, essential services deliveries and essential services workers, etc. No rural region of Australia has been cut off as yet for the abovementioned reasons.

“In Victoria alone there are many rural areas (about 33) that have had either zero or one case only. What we need to do as a society is to continue to do what we have been doing and band together and do the right thing. If we do the hard yards now, we will be better off in the long run.”

Mr Bull sent an email to all business and tourism associations and chambers of commerce in East Gippsland on Friday following the Prime Minister and Premier’s advice to not holiday this Easter.

“Destination Gippsland pleasingly put out a similar message and I would hope all accommodation houses accept this. It’s a tough call from an economic perspective, but it is the right one.

“People should also bear in mind that for those who undertake non-essential outings there are significant fines for both individuals and businesses.”

Caption: Local MP, Tim Bull, says tourists should not be visiting this Easter and as tough as it is, tourism bookings should be refused by local accommodation houses.

Monday, April 6, 2020