Abercrombie House owner Christopher Morgan says there's a real opportunity to bolster the local tourist economy in regional NSW as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease.
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With restrictions on travel throughout NSW set to lift on June 1, cultural institutions such as art galleries, museums and libraries have been given the 'go-ahead' by the state government to reopen.
And while Abercrombie House will hold off until the June long weekend before reopening, Mr Morgan expects the focus on regional tourism to be greater than ever before.
"NSW citizens are now essentially forced to explore their own state, which presents a wonderful opportunity for the regional tourism sector to gently awaken from its slumber," Mr Morgan said.
"If you look at a regional centre such as Bathurst, there's a rich tapestry of attractions that help tell the region's story and add value to the tourist experience."
Mr Morgan said the COVID-19 situation has only compounded challenges facing the tourism industry, which had already taken a hit during last summer's bushfires.
"Most tourist operators have had to survive the last few months on little to no income," he said.
"While there will now be a rush for tourist attractions to reopen, it's a fantastic opportunity to slowly rebuild and find tailored solutions to the problems."
Mr Morgan said the venue is hard at work re-evaluating their tourist offerings to accommodate social distancing and prepare for a heightened focus on regional tourism.
"For small and medium tourist businesses like ours, we have to make sure the product we're offering is interesting and entertaining, but adheres to social distancing rules," he said.
"We intend open the house up for people to explore in relatively low numbers, and we'll be opening all outdoor areas of the property to provide more space for visitors to explore."
"There will also be a pop-up veranda cafe meeting social distancing parameters, and my wife Xanthe and daughter Julia will be promoting their boxed high teas and purchasable antiques respectively."
The venue has installed 70 interpretive panels around the grounds to detail the significance of the gardens and paddocks, which were partially funded through the Bathurst Region Interpretation Fund.
Mr Morgan said the re-evaluation of outdoor offerings will introduce experiences the venue hasn't been able to before.
"There's plenty to see and do in the grounds, and visitors will now be able to take long walks around the property," he said.
"We're planning to introduce a new ticketing option for these exterior walks, valued at $5."
To keep in touch with Abercrombie House, visit www.abercrombiehouse.com.au or their Facebook page.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
