ACCI survey finds Albany locals keen to return to businesses

An Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey has revealed most locals would return to gyms, pubs, restaurants, cinemas and beauty salons if they reopened today without restrictions. The survey, released last week, examined customer behaviour across various sectors grappling with restrictions under phase two of the State Government’s roadmap to recovery including hospitality, fitness, salon services and the entertainment industry. According to the ACCI, most of the 269 respondents said they would return to businesses if restrictions were lifted, but a “significant minority” of people indicated that although they would return to businesses, they would do so less frequently. The survey showed about 66 per cent of people would return to cinemas and the entertainment centre if they were to reopen today “in their usual capacity”. About 64 per cent of respondents said they would return to gyms, public pools and group fitness sessions. About 60 per cent would return to pubs and restaurants if they were to reopen today, operating without restrictions. And about 75 per cent of people said they would attend public outdoor events. ACCI chief executive Benita Cattalini said hospitality businesses had welcomed the careful lifting of restrictions but encouraged a wider COVID-19 testing regime. “Testing is really important, and needs to be widely available, to ensure that if under the new arrangements... there is a new COVID case, it can be quarantined and promptly managed without having to re-apply the broader restrictions,” Ms Cattalini said. “To close these businesses a second time would obviously be devastating to them.” Last week, Premier Mark McGowan pencilled in June 8 as the start date for more border relaxations and more businesses to open. Mr McGowan said he was looking at bringing forward the timing of phase three of a four-phase plan to bring WA back to normality after the devastation of COVID-19. “In the next round, we are looking at things like borders, beauty and barbells ... and the further expansion of the number of people who can go to restaurants and cafes and pubs,” Mr McGowan said. “So as soon as I can do it within health advice, we will do it and it will help us get our economy up as quickly as possible and create jobs and get people back to normality.”