A Wodonga man eager to get out of the house was among the first to make a booking at a Beechworth motor inn after the lifting of restrictions on regional Victorians was announced.
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Not longer after Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday that regional Victorians could travel to other regions in the state, Armour Motor Inn co-owner Warren Dimond was receiving calls.
"Whether it's here, Yarrawonga or Bright, it will be good for business, people getting away and having a break," he said.
"Bookings have been few and far between; it's only been people who have a permit and essential workers.
"What we're doing is with any bookings, we're getting people's address and their postcode, and that's reported."
Mr Dimond and his partner Fiona Clegg have been taking restrictions a day at a time.
"There's plenty of work to do around the motel to keep it spruced up for the day when we can start having guests again," he said.
"Where you have larger bills, they have allowed you to make periodic payments.
"You try to be optimistic as best you can."
The government advised the industry on Thursday that families can only make a group booking with five others from another residence, who form their nominated "household bubble".
The same restrictions on the hospitality industry apply for dining.
Tourism Accommodation Australia Victoria general manager Dougal Hollis is working with providers to navigate their options.
"Hoteliers appreciate they have been entrusted with an important responsibility to reopen in a COVIDSafe and sustainable way and stand ready to meet this challenge," he said.
"Whilst outdoor dining is a key element in reopening, it should remain an adjunct to COVIDSafe indoor dining, particularly given outdoor options won't be available or suitable to all operators."
While regional Victorians can plan a getaway, they still can't visit accommodation across the border with the NSW government working on amendments to the public health order.
Lake Hume Resort manager Peter Jenkin said the resort was eager to welcome back regional Victorians, once the permit system was amended to allow them to cross.
"With the restaurant, Boat Shed, we're kind of waiting because we can't accept Victorians just yet; we'll have to go with the rules in place until they change," he said.
"Having them back will make a huge difference, especially for the restaurant which has regulars come over from Bellbridge.
"We've had the police on the checkpoint staying for the last three weeks and that's been a really good thing for us; that has propped us up and kept us going.
"If we can have regional Victorians back in the school holidays, I think we'll be busy."
Alpine Mayor Peter Roper said the easing of restrictions would make a difference for his shire.
"I'm quietly confident the easing of restrictions will be absolutely fantastic for the businesses in Alpine Shire," he said.
"I urge people that are feeling unwell to go and get tested."
Cr Roper is still pushing for parts of his shire, such as Mount Beauty, to be including in the border zone and outlined the serious impacts of the border closure and restrictions.
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"The rest of the country is on its business as normal, realistically," he said.
"We've been in trouble, for want of a better term, since Christmas.
"The big worry is we've got businesses that are really teetering - if they're not sunk - and it's going to take them ages to get over this.
"The ones that are teetering don't know if they'll survive yet.
"That's the hard thing - trying to instill confidence in people and encourage them to keep going, because there will be an end."