The Limestone Coast recorded an influx of visitors to the region during the festive period, with many of those stopping in Mount Gambier.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin late last year called on Blue Lake city traders to keep their doors open over the Christmas and New Year period to cater for the expected influx of visitors.
Mayor Martin called on the businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry, to see out 2021 on a positive trading note.
While many businesses heeded the Mayor’s call, she expressed disappointment that some had failed to open to cater for tourists and locals alike.
“I thought there were certainly a lot of visitors to our city,” Mayor Martin said.
“The vehicle traffic was heavy through the town and I was getting comments from people the traffic to Carpenter Rocks was really heavy.
“There were a lot of 4WD vehicles that were part of the adventure tourism and camping sector.
“I personally noticed a lot of those vehicles around town too, the streets during the holidays were very busy with cars and people.”
Mayor Martin said the retail and hospitality trade was busy in the lead up to Christmas, with those who opened on public holidays attracting strong trade.
“There were a few that opened and they were really busy,” she said.
“It was well worth their while to open and we certainly thank them for doing that to cater for the heavy influx of visitors to our city over this time.
“I did also notice a few retail stores open over the Christmas weekend and they seemed busy too.
“We have to acknowledge the hospitality industry, the density rules changed just before Christmas which I understand makes their life that much more difficult in catering for those requirements.
“With the number of visitors in our city over the Christmas and New Year period it was important that Mount Gambier was seen to be open for business.”
Mayor Martin said Mount Gambier was a tourism destination.
“We need to cater for the influx of visitors to our city so they have a good experience whilst they are here and they go away and talk about their positive experience and that is some of the best form of advertising for our city,” she said.
“It is disappointing that some did not open, but it was better this year than last year, I think we could still improve.
“It is important to get that tourist dollar, the local dollar goes round and round and it’s great to inject that new money.
“Whilst people may not think they are going to benefit from it personally, it is the flow on effect that that dollar has and the way it flows through the city, it can create employment.
“There has absolutely been a disruption to the business community as a result of COVID and they certainly need to make the most of every opportunity that is presented to them.”
Confession Coffee House co-owner Don Pratt said the holiday trade was amazing, with the main street café open every day of the break.
“We love that we never close and we love that we were thanked by literally every third customer just for being open, it really made the guys feel great about what we asked them to do,” he said.
“Visitor numbers were high with an increase in sales of 25% across the Christmas and New Year week based on our first year last year.
“Overall we could not be happier, we all just need a sleep.
“We thank our staff for putting in every single day and showing a united smiling welcoming Mount Gambier face to all who visited.”
Mr Pratt’s sentiments were echoed by Sorrentos owner Amanda Hudson, who had a “crazy busy” few days.
“Boxing day was not as busy as thought I’d be, we had 5290 open but I think COVID scared people away,” she said.
“But then on the Monday it was crazy busy, I needed more staff.
“That carried over for the Tuesday, it was worth opening.
“With the density restrictions it was a bit harder, we used all the precautions for COVID, we had hand sanitiser and QR checks in on each table and had a designated staff member to walk around and remind everyone.
“It made me feel safe as an owner as well as keeping the customers safe.”
Ms Hudson said she had tourists from all over Australia through her café, as well as attracting strong support from locals.
Meanwhile, the tighter COVID density restrictions implemented on December 26 certainly proved challenging for some local hospitality businesses.
Some opted to close for several days aligning with the public holidays, while others reduced their services.
Mount Gambier’s South Aussie Hotel was one of the licensed premises impacted by the wave of new restrictions.
Venue manager Joseph Ratcliffe said the new restrictions had a much larger impact on business than the COVID positive case that attended the establishment on Christmas Eve.
“We shut the venue two days after the case attended but not because of it,” Mr Ratcliffe said.
“The restrictions allowed for just over 40 people inside the hotel so by the time we paid staff with the holiday penalty rates, even at full capacity, it was impossible to make a profit.
“Close to 20 staff lost shifts due to the restrictions.”
Mr Ratcliffe is calling for the State Government to review the restrictions and the “dire” impacts they are having on small businesses.
“It affects all small businesses because we are not even allowed to trade to capacity in order to survive,” he said.
“If these restrictions are kept in place for the next six months, I think there will be a lot of small businesses that go under.
“There are a lot of companies that are already feeling the impact.
“It is difficult to spend two years of restrictions and have to withstand another six months with worse or equal restrictions as to when the virus first started.
“The support towards our venue from the community since making the decision to close over the holiday period has been unbelievable.”
