The constant inclusion of regional Victoria in metropolitan Melbourne coronavirus restrictions is a source of frustration for Fortuna Villa owner Paul Banks.
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Mr Banks said shutting down the entire state for cases isolated in Melbourne was devastating for regional businesses and encouraged the state government to reintroduce the "ring of steel" for future lockdowns.
"Regional Victoria will survive but its a sad old state of affairs," he said. "It's not good when you don't have one case in regional Victoria and the whole place is shut down.
"A mate mine in France sent me a message this week saying they have 4000 cases a day and, as of Friday, had no masks inside or outside. Some countries are learning to live with (coronavirus) and others are just in complete lockdown."
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Fortuna Villa, the biggest privately-owned tourist attraction in central Victoria, reopened to visitors this weekend with almost 200 people enjoying high tea and tours over two days.
"It is good to see people again. We had high tea here on Saturday with a session of 50 people and got another 100 people through on Sunday," Mr Banks said. "We have 350 booked next weekend. So we are back up and racing.
"Fortuna has taken a hit but we have rock solid strategy where we only pre-book and have no walk ins. Fortuna is a big (property) and we can spread people out because we have got so many rooms. It's easy to keep everyone 1.5 metres apart and know we are not over our quota."
During the May circuit break lockdown, Mr Banks estimated he lost $37,000 and, in frustration, sent an invoice for the losses to premier Daniel Andrews.
"I just wanted to know what we do about that," he said. "I'm going to get about $2500 (incompensation) and I just thought 'bugger this' and sent him an invoice.
"But I am one of the lucky ones because (Fortuna) has got a solid strategy. A lot of other people and businesses don't."
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