Some 79 per cent of tourism businesses in regional Victoria, Australia do not support the Grand Final (Australian Rules football) eve public holiday, according to a survey conducted by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC). “Regional tourism businesses throughout Victoria are sending the state government a clear message that this holiday must be retracted,” said VTIC acting chief executive Erin Joyce. “The majority of tourism operators are small, family-run businesses already under significant cost pressures. They have been hit hard by the additional expense of this public holiday.” Joyce’s comments came as VTIC released the findings of its survey on the impact of the grand final eve public holiday on regional businesses. The survey, which received over 120 responses from regional operators, shows the holiday put significant cost pressures on business, with over half (55 per cent) of respondents reporting that they recorded a loss for the day. Some 23 per cent of respondents reported that they did not open on the day at all. Some 71 per cent of respondents that operated on the grand final eve public holiday were forced to cancel the shifts of regular staff and work themselves or with family members in order to keep costs down. In addition, 69 per cent of respondents said that the holiday did not benefit their region.
Some 79 per cent of tourism businesses in regional Victoria, Australia do not support the Grand Final (Australian Rules football) eve public holiday, according to a survey conducted by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC). “Regional tourism businesses throughout Victoria are sending the state government a clear message that this holiday must be retracted,” said VTIC acting chief executive Erin Joyce. “The majority of tourism operators are small, family-run businesses already under significant cost pressures. They have been hit hard by the additional expense of this public holiday.” Joyce’s comments came as VTIC released the findings of its survey on the impact of the grand final eve public holiday on regional businesses. The survey, which received over 120 responses from regional operators, shows the holiday put significant cost pressures on business, with over half (55 per cent) of respondents reporting that they recorded a loss for the day. Some 23 per cent of respondents reported that they did not open on the day at all. Some 71 per cent of respondents that operated on the grand final eve public holiday were forced to cancel the shifts of regular staff and work themselves or with family members in order to keep costs down. In addition, 69 per cent of respondents said that the holiday did not benefit their region.
