Restrictions on Melbourne residents being able to travel meant a quiet Queen's Birthday weekend for some of Bendigo's tourism operators.
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Bendigo Pottery co-owner Sally Thomson said the unpredictability of lockdowns and restrictions meant some Victorians were reluctant to travel.
"It takes a while for people to start moving again," she said. "Even though regional Victorians can still travel, people still get a bit reluctant even if they are keen to get out about.
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"With no Melbourne visitors (this weekend) there was a huge change. It was big downturn on previous years. Saturday was very quiet but on Sunday we were busy after mid-morning and (Monday) was just ticking over."
Golden Dragon Museum chief executive Hugo Leschen also experienced a quieter weekend.
"We were certainly quieter than usual," he said. "No doubt we were missing the visitors from Melbourne but it was still worth being open. What we didn't have, which have had previously after lockdowns, is family groups."
Ms Thomson said enforcing the COVID-19 restrictions was a challenge.
Coronavirus restrictions meant Bendigo Pottery's museum, as an indoor non-seated space, couldn't open due to restrictions while their cafe was limited to 20 customers.
Staff also had to inspect customers' identification with travel restrictions in place.
"It is challenging for business to be a ring of steel, having to ask everyone who comes in for ID," she said.
"Even though we are lucky with the manufacturing side of things, the tourism side is definitely difficult. Just when people get confident to move, things change again. I don't know how hospitality businesses do it. I wouldn't want to be in that industry.
"We had just started having interstate travel again but the (coronavirus) changes make difficult for people to want to come to Victoria."
Ms Thomson said adding to the frustrations was trying to attract customers to a Victorian tourism business during winter.
"This time of year it is hard to engage people as you're coming into winter," she said. "Trying to get interstate people to move south is hard enough but the (coronavirus) unpredictability slows thing down.
"August is always quiet month but school holidays are coming up, which is usually really busy time. We're hoping Melbourne people can travel in that time. That's when families come to Bendigo and engage in activities here."
Mr Leschen said Melbourne reopening to travel would make a big difference for regional tourism operators.
"That will make a big difference but we are also looking forward to Awaken, which coincides with school holidays," he said. "That council initiative might be the tipping point for folks who are a little further away to decide to come Bendigo."
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