Border business owners in NSW are breathing a sigh of relief as they prepare to welcome back Victorian visitors.
Berrigan Shire became a green zone under the Victorian Government's permit system on January 18.
Barooga Hotel owner Stephen Ratcliff said he hoped the change would generate more tourism in the region.
“We’re hoping it will encourage people to come over because it has been a bit quiet,” he said.
He said Barooga and Cobram residents saw themselves as one community.
“I can’t see why the borders are closed; I think the tracing in NSW has been excellent.”
Barooga's Sunrise Motel owner Jacqueline Geisler said border businesses were lost between the two states.
She said 95 per cent of her clients were from Victoria.
“It means we might be full this weekend,” she said.
“My husband runs the motel full time and has had to find another job to sustain us.
“Before this last closure we were fully booked for January but we lost it all.”
Sporties Barooga chief executive Bobby Brookes said although Berrigan Shire becoming a green zone was the best outcome, the damage was already done.He said many regulars have not rescheduled their golf trips and will remain in Victoria.
“Whether they come back remains to be seen,” Mr Brookes said.
“These are groups that have been coming for 15 to 20 years, so it’s devastating for us.
“We don’t have the confidence to make any plans because we can be put right back into that same situation we were in on New Year’s Eve on very short notice.”
He said he has spoken with state and federal MPs to request assistance through the JobKeeper scheme and tourism incentives.
“We’re no different to a drought or fire-affected area — we have to recover.”