ACCOMMODATION businesses are seeing the light of the end of the tunnel, with Penola and Coonawarra largely booked out for the June long weekend.
As South Australians use the break for a post-coronavirus holiday, Coonawarra Bush Holiday Park owner Steve Moignard will welcome an influx of visitors after losing an estimated $100,000 in bookings over Easter.
Mr Moingard said up to 80pc of onsite facilities have been booked this weekend by locals and intrastate visitors, with all bubble tents booked over Saturday and Sunday.
He said one just boutique tent was available and all cabins, cottages and most power sites had been booked.
The holiday park owner expected up to 12 caravans to arrive at the park over the three days.
“We have had workers staying in the cabin rooms which is great, but we have not seen as many caravans as we would have liked over the weekends,” Mr Moignard said.
“This will be the biggest weekend we have had since the lockdown in March.
“Some of these booking are from people before the virus and some are new.
“Although it is not a mass influx of people from afar, most seem like they are from the region who want to get out for a bit and enjoy the outdoors.”
Mr Moingard the significant number of bookings during the low-season was a positive post-coronavirus outcome.
“We do not expect large amounts of bookings over winter as it usually picks back up around September,” he said.
“But this is a good sign and will see us through until then.”
Mr Moingard said the facility has increased its COVID-safe practices, with hand sanitiser readily available and restrictions on interstate travellers.
Accommodation provider Must @ Coonawarra has also recorded strong numbers of visitors, with just one room available.
However while welcoming the high number of bookings, owner Cate Cooper said some businesses were conflicted about reopening due to remaining restrictions.
“Quite a few places are open, but are taking bookings only which may be tricky because of the restrictions so we are not sure how much thriving will go on,” she said.
“Although social distancing is still in place it looks good for the town the accommodation is booked out and it will help financially as any revenue is better than none, but unfortunately we are not back to normal on days that are not long weekends.”
Ms Cooper said with major events such as the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival being cancelled, people are not being pulled into Penola as per normal.
“These types of events are the ones that keep our region alive during the winter,” she said.
“We cannot compare this long weekend to previous weekends as the circumstances are completely different.”
