“Off the charts” – a bumper start to the holidays

San Remo and Phillip Island traders are reporting the holiday season got off to a bumper start.

“It was our busiest Christmas period ever, by far,” said Paul Mannix, manager of the San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op.

“I know a lot of other businesses are experiencing the same thing. It’s off the charts.”

Other business owners agree, with San Remo IGA reporting record sales and Nick Say from the Westernport Hotel describing it as a fantastic start.

With most hospitality venues operating at a reduced capacity, the big crowds and new outdoor dining areas have been welcome news.

“San Remo has been a-buzz,” Paul said.

“Even though it’s been busy, it still had a really good feel about it.”

Paul hopes the outdoor dining continues after summer and many of his fellow traders agree.

“The new areas have been very well received and we’ve been lucky with the weather,” said Nick, who believes the outdoor dining areas have changed the feel of the whole town.

"It would be great to review it with other businesses and council after summer and see if we could continue it on.”

With international travel off the agenda, most businesses are reporting an increase in first-time visitors to the area, helped along by the state government’s travel voucher scheme.

“We’ve had a lot of first-time visitors,” Lauren Mitchell at Phillip Island Helicopters said.

“And a lot of people are asking for tax receipts – because they’ve applied for the travel vouchers.”

Busy island-wide

It’s a similar story across Phillip Island with multiple business operators reporting best ever takings between Christmas and new year.

The huge spike in numbers is being attributed to the fact that borders are closed and Victorians are holidaying in their own state.

Long queues of holiday-makers seem happy to wait outside cafes and restaurants for a table to become available.

Supermarkets have never been busier with some staff describing the onslaught as almost “overwhelming”.

And accommodation between Christmas and New Year was booked out.

But no-one is complaining, after the losses suffered by traders during both Covid lockdowns.

In Cowes, the new outdoor dining areas provided for restaurants patrons have worked very well, and are being well used, and the one-way traffic along the Esplanade to accommodate their installation has been accepted as necessary in these Covid times by motorists.

West of Thompson Avenue, additional new car spaces on the north side of the Esplanade have replaced those lost to the outdoor tables.

It’s been wonderful to see local attractions open again with increased capacity limits, even though the maximum number of visitors allowed at the Penguin Parade is lower than in previous years. 

"Out at the Penguin Parade there have been plenty of sell-out nights since Christmas, and it’s looking pretty strong for the next few weeks,"  said PINP spokesperson Roland Pick.

“Visitation to date at the Koala Conservation Reserve and Churchill Island has only seen a drop of around 25-30 per cent from last year’s numbers, which reflects the lack of international visitors.

“The Antarctic Journey has been about the same as last year, as this attraction is most popular with domestic visitors, so it's not surprising to see numbers have remained fairly even.”

A long stretch

Most retailers reported a huge jump in business as soon as Melbourne came out of lockdown, with visitors eager to enjoy time out of the city.

That trend has continued over Christmas and New Year, traditionally one of the busiest periods of the year.

“Once everyone was able to come down from Melbourne, it really did explode almost immediately,” said Paul Mannix.

“We were at Christmas trading levels almost straight away and then it intensified in the Christmas week. All credit to our team, it was very stressful, but they pulled it off and did a fantastic job. I’m really proud of them.”

Nick Say agrees the normal Christmas trade started much earlier this year.

He said the new outdoor dining areas have helped at the Westernport Hotel, although the venue is capped at 60 per cent of normal capacity.

Live entertainment is also back at the Westernport, aiming to support local musicians and reinforce the hotel’s reputation as a live music venue.

Flying high

Phillip Island Helicopters are back in the skies and despite normally relying on international tourists for 35 per cent of their business, holiday trade has been excellent.

“It’s been so busy, it’s awesome,” said manager Lauren Mitchell.

“Between December 26 and 31, we saw a 60 per cent increase on last year’s figures. We had good weather and that helps.”

With bookings up and strong walk-ins, she said the great start to the holiday season has helped restore confidence after a difficult year.

“The local community gave us an enormous amount of support and these few weeks give us confidence and hope that domestic travel is up.”

Covid restrictions

The happy atmosphere of the holiday crowd hasn’t been dented by the return of some Covid restrictions, including masks now being compulsory in indoor public spaces.

At the Westernport Hotel, “most people seem to be complying with the regulations,”, while the Fisherman’s Co-op has found “the overwhelming majority of customers are appreciative of the service and the lengths we’ve gone to with the Covid-safe plan.”

Passengers at Phillip Island Helicopters have to wear masks and the aircraft are cleaned between every flight.

“The goal is to keep everyone as safe as possible. Every little bit you can do to keep people feeling comfortable and safe is important,” said Lauren.

A busy January

Like all businesses in San Remo and across Phillip Island, at the Fisherman’s Co-op, they’re preparing for a very busy January.

“I expect it will be busier than normal, but it does hinge on public safety and the Covid situation,” said Paul.

“All we can do is rely on people being safe and sensible and adhering to the government advice and the Covid-Safe plans implemented by businesses. We’re crossing our fingers, but if things keep going the way they are, January will still be a ripper.

“We’re appreciative of the business that is coming through the doors each day and making the most of it, because you never know what’s around the corner.”