All road lead to the Outback? PIC: Tourism and Events Queensland
In a surprise twist, many Outback towns that have been struggling for years could find themselves benefitting from a surprise ‘Covid bounce’.
The chairperson of the Outback Queensland Tourism Association, Blackall mayor Andrew Martin, says country Queensland is experiencing a huge upsurge in domestic travel … particularly now that border restrictions are being lifted.
The Brisbane Times reports that country towns that have been on their knees for decades, dealing with population decline, the end of the mining boom, and crippling drought, are suddenly seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
Cr Martin told the newspaper that communities such as Bedourie and Boulia – where it gets so hot, bitumen on the roads begins to melt – have bookings right through Christmas.
“I am 66 years old and this is the first time in my lifetime that the Outback will see tourists in the summer,” he said.
And Cr Martin predicted that the renewed interest in travel in remote Australia would not just be a flash in the pan.
He said he recently found a Brisbane tourist crying in a caravan park because – after years of taking exotic overseas holidays – the man suddenly felt ashamed that he had not spent more time in his own backyard.
“We are seeing a lot of new visitors who would normally be in Bali or Europe and want somewhere to spend their money,” said Cr Martin. “We have been extremely fortunate all year – occupancy in Longreach has been at 97%.”
Indeed, other places such as Winton in central-west Queensland is said to have broken visitor records this year, despite being closed or having limited capacity for most of the year.
Trish Sloan, collections manager at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, said the museum welcomed a whopping 10,183 visitors in September this year … twice as many people than were greeted in the whole of 2019!
“Covid is horrible but, in regards to tourism, we have reaped the rewards,” Ms Sloan said. “We ended up having to hire more staff – it was really overwhelming and humbling.”
As a resident at the Boulia Caravan Park I have yet to see these tourists that are coming. I have my doubts but remain hopeful. So to anyone thinking of coming our way you will be most welcome