Tourism sector leaders have warned the Bendigo region's ability to see a full recovery form the coronavirus pandemic cannot rely on intrastate visitors alone.
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The latest available data from Tourism Research Australia shows Victoria suffered a $1.4 billion collapse in overnight domestic spending for October, 2020. In October, 2019, domestic tourists spent $1.642 billion in Victorian overnight visits compared to $216 million in 2020.
Victorian Tourism industry Council CEO Felicia Mariani said the data showed how much border closures affected the industry.
"Obviously we are seeing great participation in Victorians travelling but intrastate tourism cannot sustain a full recovery," she said. "A large proportion of that ($1.4 billion drop) would come from interstate visitors. This is the challenge for the industry.
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"Predictions that indicated intrastate and interstate visitors were going to be the life blood (of the tourism industry) with international tourism off the boil for so long.
"We experienced snap border closures, the latest at Christmas, and it has shaken to core the confidence of consumers to travel interstate. No one wants to be on the wrong side of a border closure."
Bendigo Tourism Board chair Finn Vedelsby said the tourism sector would scrape by with only visitors from within Victoria.
"Without events and without international tourism, and even interstate tourism, with just Melbourne people coming to Bendigo, we'll tick over. But it will be a very difficult recovery. There is a lot of lost ground to make up."
Mr Vedelsby said he was optimistic about visitation to the region in the first part of January.
"People were trying to get out of Melbourne which was fantastic, there were plenty of new faces," he said. "The art gallery's contribution to the arts and culture demographic and sport events like the tennis contributed to families choosing to sleep and eat in Bendigo and look at the other things to do. It was a good start.
"I'm optimistic that more Melbourne people are coming to Bendigo than ever before but that $1.4 billion is going to be impossible to replace.
"It's sad to hear some of major events have been cancelled but council is working closely with Bendigo Tourism Board to make Easter a family friendly event in COVID-safe environment. They are working tirelessly to keep small, ticketed events going so there is still something fun to bring the family and friends visitor demographic back to Bendigo."
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For January to September 2020, Australia's total domestic and international tourism losses were $59.1 billion.
Ms Marani said some regional areas had been able to recover effectively but places that relied on events would struggle if they couldn't host regular drawcards.
"Events play a huge part in Bendigo's and Ballarat's (make up)," she said. "Without the ability to activate events, it will be difficult and challenging. Geelong has done well because the coastal communities have done well. Other regional centres have struggled because they lost their drawcards.
"Most events have cancelled because they can't afford to take the risk.
"It's important to recognise Victoria has a two-speed recovery emerging. Some parts in regional Victoria are having bumper seasons but we have to remember one bumper season and 40,000 vouchers, does not a recovery make.
"The tourism industry is complex and has many layers. Not everyone is benefitting equally and the tourism industry is still in a world of pain."