After Victoria's border closure impacted December trade, school holiday visitation is taking a hit along the Murray.
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A change of the border bubble from 'green' to 'orange' was announced on Thursday night.
Nothing changes for border community residents staying in the bubble on the NSW side, who can still go to Melbourne.
But for anyone who lives outside of the border zone, "orange zones on the border are the same as any other orange zone in Australia".
This change cause cancellations at businesses like Capricorn Motor Inn in Mulwala.
"Ninety-five per cent of my customers come from Victoria, outside of the border bubble, so this weekend I've got two bookings," owner Josh Hughes said.
"Cancellations are a combination of not just the orange zone, but events that have been cancelled because of restrictions - there was a footy club ball that was bringing people into town that can't happen.
The closures of last year and ongoing uncertainties has led Mr Hughes to accept an out-of-the-blue offer from a Wangaratta couple to buy his accommodation business.
"I am literally one hundred metres across the border - I can look out of my window into Victoria - and I'm lumped in with people hundreds of kilometres away," he said.
"It's on both sides - we get affected by what's happening in capital cities.
"You can't make plans or budget because you don't know what will happen.
"We've been here for five-and-a-half years ... it was time for a change, and when you're worrying about bankruptcy and someone comes to you with an offer, you're going to take it."
Mr Hughes welcomed the announcement by Albury MP Justin Clancy on Thursday that support for businesses impacted by current NSW orders would be extended to include financial impacts from the period of the May associated with the Victorian restrictions.
Impacts from that lockdown from May 28 to June 4 are also lingering for Victorian businesses.
At Burramine, Byramine Homestead and Brewery owners Nicole and Wade McPherson are glad things are picking up, with a Yarrawonga-Mulwala Kids Festival running this weekend.
"We were very quiet post-lockdown and it was quite painful - people just weren't travelling up," Mrs McPherson said.
"Over the weekend it was still pretty quiet, and the week before it was extremely quiet, so Wednesday being our first official day open in school holidays, we were very busy.
"We have a trivia hunt happening, where kids can go through the homestead and answer a series of questions and do drawing-in competitions.
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"I normally chat to people about where they are from, and they're all Victorians.
"I think a lot of people from Melbourne aren't keen to cross the bridge in case something happens; it's an evolving situation."
