Edition 43
April 29, 2021
NorthernRiversTimes
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SURF SCHOOLS WIPE OUT by Christine Tondorf TOURISM operators who offer unique North Coast experiences, such as surfing lessons, hinterland bus trips, even skydiving are struggling to survive with no international tourists visiting the Northern Rivers. Chair of Destination North Coast, Cameron Arnold, says while accommodation and hospitality providers have benefited from more interstate visitors, surfing schools, bus tour businesses, even skydiving instructors, are suffering because the nation’s borders are closed. “For them it’s a struggle to survive, a continual struggle,” Mr Arnold said.
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Mr Arnold said the tourism sector that relied on domestic (Australian) visitors was doing okay – ie accommodation providers, restaurants and cafes. But the ‘experience’ tourism operators who needed international patronage, were facing hard times. “The domestic market is very different to the international market,” Mr Arnold said. Surf schools around the Northern Rivers have seen booking numbers fall by around 80%. Both companies that ran Byron to Nimbin bus tours have cancelled their services indefinitely and even skydiving operators have seen a big drop in takings. Sean Riley (pictured), who owns Soul Surfing in Byron
Bay offering surfing lessons, says he can’t see things improving for at least three years. “The problem is a lack of tourists and it’s a different kind of spender who comes to town now,” Mr Riley said. He said most of his business now comes from giving lessons to the children of Australian tourists, but he sorely misses the backpackers and international visitors. “In the school holidays we are lucky to have 10 busy days out of the 14 then everyone leaves on the last weekend but before Covid we had a steady flow of backpackers at this time of year and internationals holidaying,” he said. Continued on page 4 ☛
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