Lord Howe Island has been closed to tourists since March 21 to keep coronavirus out. While the long period of isolation has been good for the island and many of its 350 residents, some say the return of holidaymakers can't come soon enough.
It's an idyllic spot that, for the past six months, has given new meaning to the phrase private island paradise.
But with infections in NSW flatlining, the island paradise has opened up again, with the first visitors flying in on private plane on Friday. "For me personally it's been a wonderful chance to catch up with my family because I work seven day a week through the season." "We can't bury our heads in the sand and assume we're going to have this beautiful tropical island all to ourselves forever," he said.Mr Ralph says 2020 has been "pretty challenging to put it lightly" for his dive business."As soon as they announced the island was opening, we have been inundated [with bookings]," he said.
"The biggest complaint I've got about the whole thing is that we've been treated like a separate entity to the rest of New South Wales," she said.The Chief Executive Officer of the Lord Howe Island Board Peter Adams said the isolation had been psychologically and financially tough for many.
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