Easter Travel: Mixed Fortunes for Aussie Tourism

0:00It's April 7th. This is Sydney News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Australia's tourism spots saw a real mix over the Easter break thanks to spiking fuel prices and that global oil crunch. Some businesses raked in record crowds while others felt the pinch as folks get long drives. The government locked in fuel reserves through May. And Prime Minister Anthony Albanese even went on TV to say, keep your plans and don't hoard gas. Earlier this week, places like a vineyard in Orange, New South Wales, crushed it with 19% higher sales and 10% more visitors than usual. Byron Bay drew crowds despite a canceled festival and Tasmania's operators reported steady or even better trade with cafes hitting personal vests. Meanwhile, not everywhere thrived. Canberra's national zoo and aquarium took a 10% hit in visitors, blaming fuel hikes, interest rates and shaky wallets. Remote spots like Dargo and Victoria saw about 20% fewer holiday makers since getting their burns cash even for cheap camping.

1:04Owners everywhere are sweating the future, saying fuel uncertainty kills planning from guest travel to supply chains and animal food freight. Areas without buses, like Mornington Peninsula, worry lighter bookings ahead as cost bite. In the end, plenty of Aussies still hit the road for Easter vibes, but these pressures could cool things off in the months to come.