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Times
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021
GIPPSLAND
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GippslandTimes
An influx of visitors Stefan Bradley
DESPITE the Omicron COVID surge, tourism operators have experienced a welcome flurry of holiday bookings right through January. Seaspray Caravan Park manager Kim Courtney said she had bookings all the way to mid-January. “It’s exciting, people really need this holiday — I need this holiday,” Kim said. “We’re always going to be busy during Christmas time.” Kim said holidayers had already begun arriving for long stays mid-last week, ahead of the post-Christmas influx taking place now. And she hoped that despite the continuing uncertainty around COVID, people would have a great time. “Let’s bring the optimism back, get everybody happy,” she said. Kim said there were lots of activities for people to do in Seaspray, including kayaking, bike-riding, tennis, fishing and playing on the beach. “We’ve got the general store, the bar at the surf club, you’ve got food vans coming into town,” she said. “We’ve got this amazing energy in the town — 2022 is looking pretty special.” People can also look forward to Australian country music singer and songwriter Andrew Swift performing in Seaspray on January 5, from 7pm. “Usually the musicians play in the caravan park, but we’ve put him on the foreshore so everyone can enjoy his music.” Kim said interstate travellers usually came round Easter and the middle of the year, but the Christmas period brought mostly Victorians. “We’ve got people coming in from Melbourne, Geelong, Daylesford,” she said, “they travel a long way to come here”. In Loch Sport, agent Renee Potts from Cshell Real Estate said bookings had returned to pre-COVID levels. “I’ve still got people trying to get accommodation for the New Year’s period,” she said. “Our bookings really took off when Melbourne came out of that last lockdown. “I guess it was that reassurance that, fingers crossed, we wouldn’t be going into another one. “We’re pretty much booked out all the way out to mid-January Continued page 2
Photo: Stefan Bradley
in stock Happy ready for New Year immediate from Jaesaomn the t & delivery S R A C
80
SALE MAZDA & MITSUBISHI
273 York Y k St, S Sale S l Ph: 5144 1311 www.salemazdaandmitsubishi.com.au
LMCT. 10439
GP1637105
OVER
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAIR IS KANYEMBA E Raymond Street, Sale
Phone 5144 5746
GP16 636033
Kim Courtney’s team is excited to be welcoming guests to Seaspray Caravan Park.