Dominic Perrottet's decision to stop Sydney people travelling to the regions until November has drawn a mixed response from Hunter tourism operators.
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The Premier announced more changes to the state's reopening "road map" on Friday, including dropping all quarantine for vaccinated travellers entering NSW from overseas from November 1, a move later quashed by Scott Morrison.
He also pushed back the resumption of regional travel to and from Greater Sydney, which includes the Central Coast, until November 1, two weeks later than the road map had suggested.
Destination Port Stephens chairman Andrew Macdonald said the decision would cost his Nelson Bay hotel $40,000 in lost bookings on the final weekend in October.
"The delay in Sydney travel will cost businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue," he said.
"I have a 40-room hotel which was fully booked."
Port Stephens local government area reached 70 per cent vaccine coverage in over-16s six days ago, just behind the NSW average. The Anna Bay and Salamander Bay postcodes had passed 80 per cent by Wednesday but Nelson Bay had not.
Mr Macdonald said it was "really disappointing" that the government had adopted a "one-size-fits-all" approach to extending the travel ban.
Newcastle Tourism Industry Group chairman Kent Warren said he was "comfortable" with the delay and that "a couple more weeks won't break the bank".
"Anything that keeps a sustainable approach so we don't face more restrictions down the track," he said. "Vaccination levels are clearly lower in regional areas. I'd rather see a safe opening up."
NSW hit a double-dose adult vaccination rate of 78.8 per cent on Thursday. Friday's figure, to be published on Saturday, will likely be more than 80 per cent.
Hunter Business chief executive officer Bob Hawes said the extended travel restrictions would "certainly prolong the pain a little bit" for tourism operators and hospitality venues expecting an influx in mid-October.
"A lot of our members, though, have been concerned about the lower vaccination rates in the Hunter and the perceived risk to their staff, the business and our community due to this lower protection," he said.
"I would say, on balance, it's a conservative move for regional community safety and gives us a bit more of a chance to play catch-up on our vaccination rates."
The government has delayed until October 31 the scheduled tapering of JobSaver payments to affected businesses from 30 per cent of payroll to 15 per cent.
"We have looked at the health modelling and listened to feedback from regional communities," Deputy Premier Paul Toole said.
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