Mr Porter said many in the industry feared Victorians would book holidays in other states by taking advantage of the half-price airfares.
While theregional holiday sector has flourished in recent months,Mr Porter said Melbourne’s tourism-dependent businesses were hurting badly.
“It’s a two-speed economy at the moment.”
BIG4 Holiday Parks acting chief executive Rick Bischoff said the coming Easter holiday was looking “really positive” in regional Victoria.
He said popular parks on the coast were “pretty much full”,while those on the Murray River were also doing well.
“We’re really pleased that Victorians are choosing to explore their own backyard a little bit,” he said.
“There are lots of great destinations out there. Hopefully that continues for some time.”
But Mr Bischoff said travellers were still being cautious,with city parks quiet,and Victorians reluctant to travel interstate for fear of border closures.
“People are going up to the border,but not going any further.”
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Daylesford Macedon Tourism chief executive Steve Wroe said Easter marked the beginning of the busy period for the region.
“Easter is always really busy up here because right across the region we’re blessed with all these gardens that change colour,” he said.
“Typically it’s the start of our busy time.”
Mr Wroe said the summer period had also been the busiest “by miles” due to pent up demand.
Accommodation in the Daylesford region was about 95 per cent full compared to 80 per cent in Kyneton,Woodend and Macedon.
Mr Wroe was confident businesses in the Daylesford-Macedon region would survive the coming months thanks to busy winter trade.
But he said debt-laden businesses elsewhere may struggle. “I think some of the more vulnerable businesses will be at risk.”
Lancefield Guesthouse co-owner Peter Chiller said tourism was “booming” in the Macedon Ranges.
“The Macedon Ranges has done quite well in the sense that a lot of people who didn’t know we were here have started to come out because we’re so close to Melbourne,” he said.
Mr Chiller’s business had received JobKeeper earlier this year,but stopped when business started to improve.
He said more people were also moving to the Macedon Ranges,giving him confidence to start a microbrewery and restaurant,which he will begin building next month. “We just think it’s a great opportunity.”
In Anglesea,Great Ocean Road Resort owner Damien Cerantonio said bookings were strong throughout the Easter break.
“The unknown is what happens after the school holidays,” he said.
But Mr Cerantonio said there were signs that corporate customers may soon return.
“We are seeing conference inquiries growing which is a positive sign.”
He said the business would survive the expiry of JobKeeper,particularly if Victorians continued feeling confident to travel locally,but it would contribute to financial pressure.
However,Mr Cerantonio believed tourism businesses located towards the end of the Great Ocean Road that depended on international travellers would be more exposed without JobKeeper.
“The end of JobKeeper could be disastrous.”
Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism chairman Wayne Kayler-Thomson said theloss of the Rip Curl Pro surfing contest at Bells Beach this year would result in fewer visitors,but the coast would still be popular with holidaymakers at Easter.
“We expect all of the Surf Coast will be busy and probably Colac Otway as well,” he said.
Tourism North-East chief executive Bess Nolan-Cook said demand had been “awesome” for accommodation,but many business owners were exhausted and working extended hours because they were struggling to find staff.
Cleveland Winery general affairs manager Mariel Sloane said accommodation was booked out at the business for Good Friday and Easter Saturday.
However,she said the end of JobKeeper did raise some concerns about whether Victorians would have as much disposable income to spend on holidays.
“People might not know where they will be in a couple of weeks’ time,” she said.
“But we’re always hoping to get them back out here.“
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