Popular holiday resorts have become deserted ghost towns after tourists fled home amid coronavirus lockdown.
The impact of COVID-19 is being felt everywhere from Queensland’s Whitsunday beaches to the usually bustling streets of Bali.
Kalvin Moore, the general manager of the Stuffed On Seafood restaurant, on Magnetic Island said trade had plummeted.
‘The coronavirus has definitely affected us, there’s no international travel coming in,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
Holidaymakers have fled popular tourist hotspots across Australia amid the coronavirus shutdown. Pictured: Noosa, QLD
Kalvin Moore, the general manager of the Stuffed On Seafood restaurant, on Magnetic Island (pictured) said trade had plummeted
Queensland’s most popular tourist beaches have become deserted since the COVID-19 outbreak. Pictured: Hamilton Island
Mr Moore said his eatery was staying afloat thanks to support from locals.
‘Trade has been down at least 60 per cent over the last few weeks which is a huge number for us,’ he said.
‘We usually serve up to 100 to 150 meals a day and now we’re down to 30.
‘Its an eerie feeling especially on a small island where usually backpackers and travellers make up a lot of the population.’
Mr Moore said the restaurant had also implemented coronavirus hygiene practices and encouraged customers to sit at every second table to enforce social distancing.
He described the lack of tourists as ‘pretty grim’ but hoped that Aussies would continue to support local businesses.
Pictures Noosa, Hamilton Island and Broome tell a similar story, with deserted streets and empty cafes and restaurants.
Families are being urged to not be frightened off by coronavirus outbreak and holiday locally this Easter because businesses will collapse without their support.
Other tourist destinations like Broome, in Western Australia, (pictured) were desolate without the usual influx of holidaymakers
Queensland’s Tourism Minister Kate Jones’s plea has been echoed by local tourism bodies across the state who are fighting to keep businesses from going under and ultimately save jobs.
Ms Jones says the tourism sector is already struggling and while people are being told not to travel abroad, they should certainly keep their local holiday plans and not cancel bookings.
‘Misinformation is a big threat to our tourism industry. If people stay at home over Easter, it will cruel local businesses,’ she told AAP.
‘We’re urging people to holiday at home. Come to Queensland and support local businesses doing it tough. Business owners across the state need your help.’
It was only three weeks ago that caravan park operators and holiday providers were reporting strong bookings for the Easter and school holidays period said Queensland Tourism Industry Council boss Daniel Geschwind.
That has been turned on its head in recent days.
One usually packed street in Bali was eerily deserted after tourists fled home after various travel bans and border restrictions were implemented
‘People’s travelling horizon is rapidly shrinking and effectively we are down to the drive market and day trip scenarios,’ he said.
‘The pain and hurt are intense in hospitality and tourism and this not some abstract thing, this is reality and it translates into lost employment and lost incomes and it becomes a vicious cycle.’
Destination Gold Coast CEO, Annaliese Battista said health and safety for all residents and tourists were paramount but they remained very much ‘open for business’.
She said consumer confidence had taken a hit and holidaymakers may still be undecided or reluctant to leave home.
But she encouraged them to come and play.
‘Encouraging Australians to holiday in the nation’s favourite playground this year is vital,’ she said.
‘We are currently marketing to Sydney, Melbourne and the Brisbane drive market to come and play on the Gold Coast this Easter and beyond.’
The pleas for tourists extended north where Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen who effectively called upon locals to rise and be counted this Easter holidays.
He said the industry was on their knees and one in five jobs relies on holidaymakers and international tourists to the area will all but cease soon.
‘We are open for business and encouraging locals to visit … and we are launching our drive North Queensland website and encourage people to get out and explore.’
He said there had been a significant impact because of cruise line cancellations including 19 of 38 in the region which had been scheduled to stop at Cairns.
Pictured: One man took full advantage of Bali’s lack of tourists and snapped a bizarre nude photograph of himself on the beach
‘That’s a significant impact combined with the impact on outdoor and indoor events and the visitation downturn we will see a downturn of a billion dollars worth of expenditure.’
Some of the few remaining tourists in Bali have shared snaps of the eerily quiet streets.
Pictures showed rows of empty market stalls with shopkeepers eagerly awaiting any customers.
One tourist took full advantage of the empty beaches and shared a bizarre picture of himself posing nude.
The federal government has enforced level four travel restrictions and warned Australians not to leave the country.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade asked that travelling Australians who are planning on coming home do so as soon as possible.
There has been no ban placed on travelling domestically.