Filling up at the bowser has become increasingly pricey, but is it impacting our Easter holiday plans? Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Tourism operators are urging families to commit to Easter holiday travel despite fuel costs hitting their hip pockets.
A Reflections Holidays survey of 10,000 of its members in mid-March found less than 5 per cent of respondents were planning to postpone travel plans because of fuel costs.
But 62 per cent said they would change their travel to be closer to home or reduce stops (in a road trip) if fuel went above $3 a litre.
In Batemans Bay, Corrigans Cove Resort owner-operator Andrew Johns said his business was among those preparing for impact.
He told Region he had seen the resort’s occupancy rate drop by 20 to 25 per cent over the past two months.
“I wouldn’t say [it is] desperate, but I would say that’s indicative of a potential hard Easter long weekend, which these regional areas — especially on the east coast, are obviously very dependent on,” Mr Johns said.
“We generally, across the board, have quite a steady year (other than the winter period).”
He said leisure travel was looking “definitely down” as people reconsidered whether it was the right time to travel, a situation that could last for several months until fuel costs eased.
“People’s anxiety is pushing them to cancel or change dates or delay,” he said. ”I personally feel that in these next three to four weeks, we’re going to tread pretty lightly but be overly assertive with our marketing.”
Mr Johns said he was looking towards markets in Canberra and other parts of regional NSW, and was focusing on government and corporate travel.
“It’s trying to balance being respectful to the guests and customers … but at the same time, keeping the staff employed and keeping the business’s head above water,” he said.
He said the resort, to be as flexible as possible, was investigating or implementing early arrival (or late check-out), one-night minimum stays and free cancellation.
“It’s something that a lot of accommodation places will do,” Mr Johns said.
In the Illawarra, Destination Wollongong business development manager Tracey Pascoe agrees that consumer confidence is down.
“If they can push it back, they probably will push it back,” Ms Pascoe said of people’s travel plans.
“[We’re confident] they will rebook eventually, when things get back to normal. The desire to travel is still very strong.”
Ms Pascoe said businesses were willing to experiment and look at alternative things they could offer.
“Everyone’s in the same position, where they’re not certain of what’s happening. They are adaptable — as we’ve seen in the past, through COVID. They’re ready to make changes if necessary to whatever may be next.”
Ms Pascoe said the region’s location (close to big population centres Sydney and Canberra) and its “whole stack” of activities made it an attractive option, especially for those looking to visit family and friends.
“That [demand] hasn’t changed, despite what’s going on, because people have booked in advance, prior to the petrol prices … They’re all still coming; our hotels are holding strong occupancy.”
Ms Pascoe pointed to non-petrol-based travel (such as e-scooters and trains) as ways people could limit costs, noting people were likely to be “tightening their purse strings” because of cost-of-living pressure.
Reflections Holidays is also offering a fuel offset voucher until 30 April, with each guest at its 40 holiday parks receiving $25 in their account during the first week of May.
Ms Pascoe said that while it was too early to say how the school holidays would shape up, she expected people would stay close to home.
For Easter, she said hotel occupancy in the region was steady, though there were vacancies for anyone still looking to book.
“You don’t have to jump on a long-haul flight to experience some great activities,” she said. ”The South Coast has a wide breadth of beautiful things to do.
“This time of year is absolutely stunning. I’d say just come and explore the South Coast at this time.”
