The flooding that has beset many parts of Victoria looks set to have a severe impact on the state’s tourism industry long after the waters have receded.
With the road system battered and bruised and visitor confidence hit hard, there are growing fears that it could be a disappointing summer for the state’s tourism sector.
The Age newspaper reports that more than 480 roads remain closed throughout the state, severely limiting access to many small towns whose economies rely on tourism.
It says that many tourism operators along the Murray River are now facing their third summer of severely disrupted trade after the losses inflicted by the Covid pandemic.
Tourism operators along the Murray River have been suffering. PIC: Clarko1959 / Pexels
Barmah Bridge Caravan Park co-owner Brad Panos told the Age that much of the site remained underwater, and they would be lucky to reopen by the end of January.
“It’s a long road to recovery for us, we were just clawing our way back from Covid,” he told the Age. “But everyone in Australia wants to holiday on water, whether it’s a river or the ocean … that’s why these parks exist.”
Mr Panos estimated the business would lose about $100,000 in income, and he said that flood insurance had become impossible to find or far too expensive for caravan parks on rivers.
Murray Regional Tourism Board interim chief executive, Will Flamsteed, told the Age that many accommodation providers had ‘zero per cent occupancy’ because roads were closed or customers had cancelled because of concerns about the floods.
“We’re seeing it in Echuca, we’re seeing it right along the river,” he said. “People going to Swan Hill or Mildura are cancelling because they think the whole Murray is flooded, there’s a lot of that at the moment.”
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Too much water & mud plus too many mosquito born diseases such as Ross River Fever or Japanese Encephelitis.
That is why I’m not going anywhere this year, and maybe next year, with the cost of fuel as well.
I have been waiting for the covid restrictions to be lifted, and now I was all set to take off for the eastern states when the floods hit. I will wait until the floods have receded and the places I want to go to (not along the coast ) inland will be lush and green. so I will just wait again.