Acting Premier James Merlino announced that although Melbourne was scheduled to exit its circuit breaker lockdown next week, travel to the regions would not be possible.
“So, I want to be upfront with people that even if all goes well, we won’t be able to have people travelling from Melbourne to regional Victoria during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend,” he said.
“The risk of exporting this virus is just too high.”
But according to Echuca-Moama Accommodation Association co-president Paul Lavars, this blow is simply too great.
“That's 90 per cent of bookings gone in one announcement,” he said.
“And it's so much more than just the loss of revenue. There is no support, no JobKeeper, so not every venue has enough to carry their staff.
“If we reopen in three weeks, they need those staff, so you have businesses who already don't have the same reserves in the bank they would in previous years having to reach into their pockets even further to keep staff with no money coming in.
“It's an unbelievable blow.”
Echuca Moama Tourism chief executive Kathryn Mackenzie said it was devastating.
“I've been talking to some operators, and they are just devastated,” she said.
“A lot of people are fantastic and are trying to rebook for another time, but we were travelling really well for the long weekend.
“We thought we had turned a corner in the last few months, but this just hits us pretty hard.
“All we can hope is for others in regional Victoria to make the trip up and spend some days here.”
MORE LOCAL NEWS
COVID-19 restrictions to lift in regional Victoria, with seven-day extension to Melbourne lockdown
Key Echuca-Moama business figures to address Victorian Parliament over COVID impact
Council planning applications to move online
4°C