Outback Queensland tourism operators are welcoming news that unlimited travel throughout the state, including overnight stays, is now allowed, but warn that they still face major hurdles that some will struggle to recover from.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a major easing of COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday, 12 days ahead of schedule and well in time for the next school holidays, thanks to the continuing low numbers of active coronavirus cases in the state.
The easing of restrictions does not apply to biosecurity or restricted zones for indigenous communities, which will remain in place subject to a review in consultation with community members.
Karumba Point Holiday and Tourist Park operator Roslyn Smith said her phone and email had been running hot since the Premier's Sunday afternoon press conference.
"It's really good news - we only had a small amount of permanent residents or people with nowhere else to go so we've basically been shut," she said. "I'm not sure what it will mean for the charter operators, trying to manage social distancing on small boats, but there'll be plenty of fishing off the beach."
She said the restrictions had hit the Gulf tourist and fishing town hard, thanks to an already-small tourism window because of the region's extended hot weather.
"We only have four-and-a-half months to make our money as it is and a chunk of that is already gone," she said.
"The hot weather thins people out in mid-August and by September they're nearly all gone.
"We'd just come off eight months of no money when our peak season turned into another off-season."
Ms Smith said she didn't expect their 100 sites and four villas to be booked out unless state borders opened but said Queenslanders might surprise her.
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At Julia Creek, McKinlay Shire acting community services team leader Kalan Lococo said the news was a very positive result, considering the impacts on small businesses and tourism outlets in the region so far.
"The majority of them closed and there was a follow-on effect of no travellers, throughout the community," he said.
Unfortunately for people hoping to experience Julia Creek's newest attraction, artesian baths housed in boundary rider-styled huts that allow for longer soakings, they will have to wait until mid-July at this stage.
Mr Lococo said that was in line with stage three of the state government's easing of coronavirus restrictions as they related to saunas and bathhouses.
"The caravan park is open for recreation and leisure travel though, and there are quite a few other attractions - dunnart feedings, Walkabout Creek Hotel at McKinlay, the road to the Combo Waterhole is getting sealed, and our RV park has four nights of free camping."
Read more: Bathing beauty in the Creek
The shire has teamed up with Winton and Cloncurry in a tourism cross-promotion that was originally aimed at school holiday travel.
At this stage, Mr Lococo said they were unsure whether there would be an influx of tourists straight away or whether most would wait until school holidays.
Health Minister Steven Miles said that from Friday this week, venues with a number of spaces that had an approved COVID-safe industry plan would be able to allow up to 20 people in each separate area, seated for meals or drinks.
"However, every venue must continue to adhere to strict social distancing rules including limiting each patron to an area of four square metres and adhere to hygiene protocols.
"I know many Queenslanders will look forward to having a drink out.
"It will be a different experience - you will need to be seated and be served by a waiter to order your drinks. Crowds standing at the bar doesn't support social distancing."
The same restrictions will apply to gyms and other health clubs, parks, museums and art galleries, in churches and places of worship and other public facilities such as libraries.
In relation to community sporting events where clubs have more than one field, limits of 20 spectators per field will apply.
Mr Miles said the government would work with bodies still subject to restrictions around preparing COVID-safe industry plans.