Howard Salkow

Senior Journalist

Covid-19 restrictions and the recent Cairns lockdown has had a significant impact on Daintree Forest businesses with one hotel reporting zero occupancy for tonight.

Vicky Bidwell, owner of Heritage Lodge and Spar, said it is so quiet it looks like someone has flicked the lights.

“It’s been like this for more than two weeks. Last night we had 11 guests, tonight we have none,” said Bidwell, whose property has 23 cabins.

“While I am hoping it will soon pick up, we are seeing fewer groups and numerous tours have cancelled their reservations. We’ve had 100’s of cancellations,” she said.

The owner of Floraville Ice Cream Factory, Betty Hinton, said it has been quiet since the Cairns lockdown.

“We have experienced a slightly better week, but it is a slow trickle and there have been no tourism buses.”

A spokeswoman for the Daintree Village Hotel said business has declined since the Cairns lockdown.

“Although we are still operating with normal hours and serving lunch and dinner, it has slowed down and we are seeing a lot less traffic.”

Contact tracers

On 8 August, Newsport reported that Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Cairns and the Indigenous community in Yarrabah had been put into lockdown after an unexpected case had thrown contact tracers.

She said she “was very concerned” after a taxi driver was infectious in the community for 10 days and said more testing had to be done.

The lockdown lasted for three days before being ceased.