The Limestone Coast was abuzz with activity over the long weekend, as locals and tourists flocked to a host of events.

The sporting calendar was packed with events, including the Master of Mac Park motorcycle race and the Inside Line State Series downhill mountain bike race.

Community events such as BrickGambier, Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations, Geocaching MegaEvent, South East Street Machines show n shine, the model and train display and markets at Beachport and Robe also attracted visitors to the region.

Limestone Coast destination development manager Biddie Shearing said there had been steady trade for tourism operators throughout the region.

“I think it’s actually been really good, I spent some time in the lead up to the long weekend calling the traditional tourism operators to see how their bookings were going and they were saying things were looking good,” she said.

“I think there’s almost been some light at the end of the tunnel since the snap Victorian lockdown in late July.

“A friend of mine was travelling to Adelaide on Friday and told me there was a stream of cars and caravans heading towards the Limestone Coast so it was good to see there were people coming down from the city.”

Mrs Shearing said there were strong bookings across the tourism and accommodation operators.

“Robe was almost at capacity, there were a few others seeing good occupancy levels, so it was a good weekend, especially given the Victorian border is not open,” she said.

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“Talking to some of the tour operators in the region they are noticing a real lift in local visitors and patrons and then they might have their family or friends down from the city.

“As locals we have gone out and supported some of those businesses who need us, you can book in with tour operators and let them do all the bookings and moving you around.”

Mrs Shearing said there was a glimmer of hope within the local industry.

“We have done really well as a region in terms of supporting local businesses especially in the light they are missing over 50% of expenditure and their target market because of the Victorian border and the international border being closed,” she said.

“Some of the language that was said to me in the week leading up to long weekend was that bookings were back to where they were two years ago.

“They are not back at full occupancy or where they were in 2019 but they have climbed back up.

“Bookings are a lot better than what it had been, the last couple of months had been pretty dire for some operators.

“I think really it’s been a beautiful spring into the seasonal quarter that we have and if anybody deserves that it is the tourism operators, they have endured some really tough times, having the flurry of visitors from outside and also the locals it’s a real reward.

“They have wrapped their arms around the opportunity.”