The Orbost Chamber of Commerce and Industry has pushed through COVID-19 as it makes plans to spark the area’s economy in the aftermath of a destructive 2020 thus far.

The chamber has a number of ideas in motion as the year progresses having met via Zoom while restriction have been enforced.

The chamber reported the restrictions have had a variable effect on local businesses with restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and camp parks finding it particularly difficult, suffering severe economic impacts.

“While travel is now allowed, visitors numbers through the district are down partly due to the lack of international tourists on the Sydney-Melbourne touring route,” chamber president, Garry Squires, said.

“This is likely to be an ongoing issue but hopefully the numbers of domestic tourists will increase.”

The Visitor Information Centre at the Slab Hut has reopened and is operating limited hours 10am to 2pm seven days per week.  Hours will be increased as visitor numbers increase.

A key focus for chamber is to get fire-damaged facilities on public land restored. 

“The key focus is at Cape Conran, which is a key tourist location in the district,” Garry said.

The chamber, in conjunction with the Marlo Ratepayers Association, has commissioned seven 90-second videos to promote the range of activities in the region. 

The videos will be available prior to spring and will complement other promotional campaigns by Destination Gippsland and East Gippsland Marketing.

And, following extensive representations by the chamber to Rural Roads Victoria, there is now a commitment to erect deer warning signs on the highway between Orbost and Nowa Nowa.

IMAGE: Orbost Chamber of Commerce and Industry promotional multiple use shopping bags have been distributed through the district with more to be distributed to tourists. (PS)