The news of regional travel restrictions lifting in SA has been received positively by those in rural areas, who are excited to welcome visitors to their towns, while remaining cautious about potential risks.
The restrictions eased on Monday, with campgrounds and caravan parks also reopening to the public, and alcohol-free outdoor dining for restaurants and cafes allowed to a 10-person capacity.
Local Government Association president Sam Telfer said most areas supported regional travel resuming.
"Communities and regional leaders are cautiously encouraged by these restrictions being eased, but there needs to be continued awareness around this challenging situation," Mr Telfer said.
"The majority of our regional communities don't have medical and social support structures that would be able to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak, and that's what makes them especially cautious."
This gives us confidence to keep planning, and you get a feeling that things are getting better.
- JAMES HAMILTON
Mr Telfer said reopening of businesses that had closed would be on a case-by case basis, depending on business type and location.
Kangaroo Island mayor Michael Pengilly said he was "very happy" about the island reopening, in wake of a challenging start to the year.
"The fires wiped out half the island in January, which also wiped out tourism on the western side, and we were just sort of getting going again and then COVID-19 came and wiped out the eastern half," he said.
"We're delighted we can have visitors again, and I'm really happy that islanders can get away for a few days as well if they want to."
Mr Pengilly said the reopening of the KI would "crank up a fair few jobs", and visitors to the island could be guaranteed a good experience.
"The island is green and looks fantastic, the burnt areas are regenerating," he said.
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In Coonawarra, Majella Wines co-owner Brian Lynn said cellar doors were still forced to stay closed, but the reopening of restaurants and cafes was possibly more important than visitation.
"The hospitality industry has being decimated in the cities, it's meant all our sales that usually go that way haven't happened," he said.
"The sooner we can get back to normal, the better, it will take a little while but we've already taken the first steps."
Golden Child Wines director and winemaker James Hamilton, Dingabledinga, said the winery had planned to open a joint cellar door at Kuitpo with Jericho Wines, and the easing of travel restrictions provided reassurance going forward.
"This gives us confidence to keep planning that, and you get a feeling that things are getting better," he said.
In the Clare Valley, Terroir Auburn owner Dan Moss said reopening the restaurant under current restrictions was not financially viable, and he would wait for more restrictions to ease before throwing open the doors.
"We will be waiting for the second stage on June 8 when indoor dining for up to 20 people is permitted, and there is so much more positivity now we have an actual date to work towards," he said.
Caravan park gets ready for inquiries
Cape Jervis Big 4 Accommodation and Caravan Park owner Anthony Miles was pleased SA regional travel restrictions had lifted, and said it was "definitely a step in the right direction".
"It hasn't made a huge difference yet, but hopefully it will," he said.
"We're starting to get inquiries back through again for people coming, but it's still pretty quiet at the moment."
The lockdown hasn't gone as long as I thought it would, but it's going to take a long time to crank things up again.
- ANTHONY MILES
Since the end of March, the caravan park has only accommodated people who were deemed essential travellers, as per state government guidelines.
"It had a pretty drastic effect," Mr Miles said.
"Last April the accommodation side did something close to $50,000 and this April, it was just more than $6000."
Mr Miles said the park had a quiet start to the year, due to many people travelling direct to fire-affected Kangaroo Island to help with the recovery process, without stopping on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
With winter approaching - the quietest time of the year for the park - Mr Miles expected recovery to be slow.
"We're always pretty quiet in winter anyway, but where it really hurts us is that winter is where we usually get a lot of overseas people travelling, because it's their summer, but that won't be happening, and that will probably hurt us as much as anything," he said.
"The lockdown hasn't gone as long as I thought it would, but it's going to take a long time to crank things up again."
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