Important information from the Tasmanian Government:
On 25 March 2020 the Premier announced that the National Cabinet agreed additional prohibited activities and venues restrictions would apply.
Prohibited activities and venues that apply to the accommodation sector of Tasmania include all hotels, hostels, caravan (including self-contained cabins) and camping parks, bed and breakfasts, campsites and boarding houses, sharing accommodation (including AirBnB) and all hosted accommodation and holiday home rentals.
Essentially, this includes all accommodation types in Tasmania.
From 11.59 pm Sunday 29 March all commercial accommodation, caravan and camping businesses in Tasmania may only accommodate visitors that fit the following categories:
- Tasmanian workers
- Interstate workers deemed as Essential Workers
- Permanent residents – permanent residents are those who permanently reside in caravan parks, hotels and hostels
- People that are in a self-isolation period (who must vacate at the end of the 14 day required period)
- People who have been directed by Government to enter into self-isolation. These people will be allocated to those properties that have been listed by the Tasmanian Department of Communities.
Essential Workers categories may be found on www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au. The Secretary of DPIPWE has discretionary powers in considering and approving applications for non-Tasmanian workers.
Caravan parks and Spirit of Tasmania additional capacity
There has been some difficulty for visitors in campervans and motorhomes in particular to organise travel back to the mainland. The Spirit of Tasmania has scheduled additional day sailings for Tuesday and Wednesday next week to assist with getting people home.
This means that the current restriction on caravan parks for visitors to vacate has been extended until 11.59 pm Wednesday 1 April 2020.
What does this mean for people currently staying at these accommodation types in Tasmania?
Accommodation, caravan and camping venues are closed to all visitors except for those who meet the above categories.
Visitors staying in accommodation, other than caravan parks and travelling on the Spirit of Tasmania, have until 11.59 pm Sunday 29 March 2020 to depart Tasmania.
Visitors who are travelling on the Spirit of Tasmania have until Wednesday 1 April 2020 to depart Tasmania.
How can you help your visitors leave by the required date?
Advise your visitors that they need to make bookings now to depart Tasmania by the required date. This is a matter of urgency.
The Tasmanian Government is working with the Spirit of Tasmania and the airlines to ensure capacity is available for interstate and international visitors to leave Tasmania.
If your guests are having trouble getting through to carriers to make or confirm their bookings, please advise them to remain patient. All carriers are working hard to accommodate travellers within the announced restrictions.
For Tasmanian residents living permanently at an RV site on Council-controlled land
Huon Valley Council is closing all RV sites on Council-controlled land effective 12:00am Monday 30 March 2020.
You will need to relocate to an alternate RV site. We recommend moving to a legitimate Caravan Park, such as Dover Beachside Caravan Park, Southport Hotel and Caravan Park, the Huon Valley Caravan Park, Cygnet Caravan Park or others in the Channel area, such as Snug Beach Caravan Park. Please contact the site to confirm whether they are staying open and accepting new people to stay.
Emergency accommodation for travellers
Emergency accommodation will be made available to travellers who are affected by the closure to accommodation facilities in Tasmania. A list of available accommodation for travellers can be found on the Department of Communities Tasmania website.
Find out more in the Emergency Accommodation for Travellers fact sheet.