JOSH BRINE and HUGH SCHUITEMAKER
VISITORS flocked to the Riverland by the thousands over the Easter long weekend, providing a big boost for local businesses and shops recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions.
Many campsites, caravan parks and accommodation providers were booked out for the weekend, while Easter events drew strong crowds of locals and tourists.
Destination Riverland general manager Ben Patten said tourism and hospitality operators region-wide had been “flat out”.
“It was a very busy weekend, and visitor numbers have been up for quite a while since we came out of COVID restrictions in the second half of last year,” he said.
Mr Patten said the Easter weekend was one of the most valuable periods for the local tourism sector.
“The key for us is to get people to disperse further, stay longer and spend more,” he said.
“But in tourism you need to make hay when the sun shines and the Easter long weekend is certainly one of those periods.”
Easter events returned to towns across the Riverland this year, after being forced to cancel celebrations last year.
Berri hosted its annual Easter carnival and free community breakfast, the Loxton Chamber of Commerce organised a free picnic, the Lake Bonney Sand Sculpture Spectacular and twilight markets were held in Barmera, and Waikerie’s Easter Show attracted many attendees.
Mr Patten said such events enhanced the region’s tourism offering and improved the experience of visitors.
“Certainly, having events on at the same time adds to their experience and ensures they are positive advocates when they return to where they are from,” he said.
Loxton Historical Village also hosted its Alive Day on Easter Sunday, drawing around 600 visitors.
Village co-ordinator Julie Noble described the day as “very successful”.
“Alcock’s Store was run as a shop, selling mostly lollies and cool drinks, Ian Murdoch ran two shearing sessions... and the whip cracking sessions run by Paul Haenen were also very popular,” she said.
After significant damage was caused by campers around Lake Bonney over the Adelaide Cup long weekend, Berri Barmera Council chief executive officer Karyn Burton said increased monitoring by council staff ensured local campsites were free of damage.
“We had a lot of patrols in place and additional bins,” Ms Burton said. “We were doing all the extras, anticipating we may have issues around the lake but we did not.
“We did have staff doing additional patrols and the constant picture of council vehicles doing the drive around probably helped.
“Everyone was behaving and as far as we know we didn’t have any issues, which is really awesome.
“We’re really grateful visitors did behave themselves and did the right thing.”