UPDATE
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The Goulburn Mulwaree Council has resumed regular trading hours at the Goulburn Visitor Information Centre (VIC) of seven days a week.
The council staff advised Australian Community Media, "the VIC did reopen on weekends permanently, beginning last weekend for the long weekend."
The VIC had closed from August for health safety concerns of staff and decreasing visitor numbers.
During the closure, posters with QR codes were displayed for tourists to access local information, as well as hardcopies of the Goulburn Australia Destination Guide.
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The Goulburn Visitor Information Centre (VIC) is remaining cautious about reopening on Saturdays and Sundays and will remain closed for weekend trading until at least November, Goulburn Mulwaree Council staff say.
In March, many tourist offices across the state were closed after the introduction of Covid-19 guidelines. However, from June 1, holidays were allowed to resume for residents within NSW, and restrictions for tourism operators were relaxed.
The Goulburn VIC, which is operated by the local council, had taken further precautions despite the easing of rules.
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"In light of concerns regarding staff exposure to travellers coming from NSW hotspots and a decreasing number of foot traffic," a spokesperson for the council explained.
The spokesperson said the council is monitoring the advice from NSW Health and the NSW Government and the VIC reopened briefly for the October long weekend.
"With no community transmission cases for consecutive days within NSW, a decision was made to re-open the Centre earlier to assist with school holiday travel and heavier traffic during the long weekend," he said.
It is expected to resume regular trading hours by the end of November.
The Centre was using technology and brochures for travellers visiting the centre on Saturdays and Sundays.
"Posters will be displayed at the VIC containing a QR code, which visitors can scan to take them directly to local information contained on the Goulburn Australia website.
And, "hardcopies of the new Goulburn Australia Destination Guide are also available for visitors (and locals) from the front of the VIC," a spokesperson said.
The centre would usually cater for around 78 visitors per weekend, according to the council's average visitor numbers between July 2019 to June 2020.
A boon for accommodation and tourism businesses
The closure of the VIC means regional accommodation and tourism businesses relying on weekend trade from the tourist office were not being connected.
President of the Chamber of Commerce Darrell Weekes said the Chambers would assist any business impacted by the interruption to weekend trading.
"I think the VIC is one of those crucial jigsaw pieces that help hold it all together, you have to have a central point for people to find information, a number of travellers rely on VICs across the country," he said.
"My concern here is that we have businesses in Goulburn relying on the VIC providing information to visitors," he said.
"Businesses are the beating heart of town. If we don't maintain trading, we have more people lose their jobs, and more pressure on social services, and effects on mental health. It is important we maintain the balance and do everything we can in keeping the doors open."
Mr Weekes said he would talk to the Chamber executive, and was already discussing the issue with the council's mayor Bob Kirk and general manager Warwick Bennett.
Share your thoughts. Has the pause in weekend trading affected your business?
