Tourism authorities at a hugely popular travel destination north of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland have hit out at ongoing camping restrictions which it says are threatening the survival of local businesses.
The Rainbow Beach Commerce and Tourism (RBCT) Committee says tourism is suffering significantly due to numbers being capped from 2300 to 1190 at the Inskip camping ground.
It is now calling on the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCQI) to work with National Parks to get more campsites open.
“During Covid, campgrounds were shut (understandably) and wood constructions were built around them so no one could enter,” the organisation said. “However, post Covid there has been no change and the campgrounds’ day use areas are still closed.”
According to a report in the Rainbow Beach Cooloola Coast Community News, there was also concern that other campsites, such as caravan parks, did not have to follow such restrictive conditions, such as there being 15 to 20 metres between campsites.
And the Rainbow Beach Commerce and Tourism Committee had other gripes.
“Why are persons at specific campsites serviced by toilet facilities limited to a maximum of 100 persons per toilet block facility?” it asked. “Most campsites have their own toilet system. Is there any statistic collection for this fact … again why are parks, clubs, caravan parks not restricted?”
It all took issue with the fact that no groups of more than 20 are able to book campsites at Inskip, when there was no such ‘no 20 visitor’ restrictions in pubs, clubs, caravan parks, parks, beaches, and picnic areas.
The committee said some local businesses reported customer numbers were down by as much as 50%, with shops saying it was due to the lack of campers buying daily perishables like milk, bread and meat. It said cafes and takeaway vendors have found there are less people stopping for lunch, and or breakfast on their way to the local campgrounds or Fraser Island. Service stations both in Rainbow Beach and as far as Goomboorian have sold significantly less fuel when comparing prior years.
“It seems that rules and procedures have been made up on the spot without any consideration of the effects that it may cause to local trade, businesses, tourism or the general population of such a small town,” the committee said in its submission. “We would like some communication including answers, consultation, future plans and decisions to help our suffering business community.”
Here we have the Old Premier bleating that she needs more federal funding because their tourism industry has been hit hard and yet the restrictions are still in place.
Who woulda thought that closing down/restricting the tourist industry would cause financial loss?
She must have missed accounting 101 lessons during “Anyone Can Become a Premier” classes.
City rules don’t work in Rural, this has been a problem from day 1, to then have the guts to ask for help from the Feds when she was the one that kept all visitors out, then she gets re elected well that was very smart was it now, you reap what you sow.
I have never supported RV unfriendly towns and carry a Jerry can for those places so I dont have to stop. I have spent thousands on services, supplies and mechanical repairs in RV friendly towns…