Fuel Prices Hit Hard: Regional Queensland Tourism Business Struggle

Regional Queensland tourism businesses are feeling the pinch of high fuel prices, with many reporting a significant drop in visitor numbers. Carly Clark, owner of Splitters Farm near Bundaberg, says her tourist numbers have declined by 30 per cent, with the recent September school holidays seeing a notable decrease in both accommodation and day trip bookings.

"This September school holidays we saw that a lot of people were not travelling and that our numbers were down in both the accommodation and the day trips," Ms Clark said.

Splitters Farm, a popular tourist destination that relies on the drive tourism market, offers visitors the chance to interact with a variety of rescue animals. Ms Clark attributes the decline in visitors to the rising cost of fuel and other expenses, such as insurance hikes.

"You've got [the] rising cost of insurances as well, and as a business we have to pass those insurance hikes onto our customers … so everyone's getting hit," she said. "I think grey nomads are naturally pretty frugal with travelling, but families definitely are being hit hard by [the] cost of fuel, cost of electricity."

Visitors to the region, such as Megan Rippon, who travelled from Lismore in northern New South Wales with her daughters, are being mindful of their spending. "I've got a hybrid [car] which helps but definitely thinking about the cost of fuel," Ms Rippon said. "We're probably going to go to the beach and relax by the pool."

Turtle Tour Bookings

The region's turtle season is approaching, but despite weekend tickets normally selling out beforehand, there are still thousands available. Mon Repos ranger-in-charge Cathy Gatley said the turtle centre offers a unique experience.

"Mon Repos is a really special place. It's the main nesting place for the endangered loggerhead turtle," she said. "You can drive to the park and up to the turtle centre and then walk along the beach with a guide to see turtles, hopefully, if turtles behave on the night."

State member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett, is not concerned that Mon Repos tickets haven't yet sold out, as the season has just begun. "There's a lot of billboards going up now that will start to promote the turtles and the visitor experience, and Bundaberg and the Southern Great Barrier Reef are certainly a destination that we continue to promote," he said.

Caution on Spending

According to Bundaberg Tourism, the region had 750,000 overnight visitors in the past financial year, injecting $430 million into the economy. However, the tourism body has observed a shift in booking trends in recent months, with tourists being more conscious of how they spend their money.

"One of the things we have noticed is that booking window that people have when looking to make a trip has tightened, but that has been seen throughout the state and also throughout Australia," chief executive Duncan Littler said.

Whale tour operators in Hervey Bay are also feeling the effects, with bookings down 30 per cent this season compared to last year. Whalesong Cruises general manager Ben Duffy said people seem to be holding onto their disposable income rather than enjoying life.

"People seem to be holding onto their disposable income rather than enjoy life," he said. Mr Duffy would like to see a cut to the fuel excise to alleviate pressure on businesses and travellers.

Exploring Closer to Home

Ms Clark said it was a "period of uncertainty" for businesses and households, but suggested that locals could explore their own backyard. "You've got the reef, the farm, you've got fantastic food and beverage options all within a really small space, 20 minutes from each other," she said.