Riverina businesses that relied on international travel before the pandemic have called for a more certain timetable for when Australia's borders might reopen.
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Last week's federal budget reignited the debate over how Australia should manage its border restrictions, with the Treasury forecast that "inbound and outbound international travel is expected to remain low through to mid-2022".
Even if a "population-wide vaccination program" is completed this year, the second half of 2022 would see a "gradual recovery in international tourism" under that forecast.
Temora Travel agency owner Tania Botha said the last 12 months had been "the most difficult year in business I have ever had".
"It's been a pretty depressing time. I hate that the government can't give us more of a road map as to what is actually going to happen and when international borders are going to open," she said.
"It's really hard to plan as a travel agent. You have just got to take it one day at a time.
"We're just pushing as much domestic travel as we possibly can, it's been great that the [state] borders have remained open and it gives consumers more confidence to book a trip...we have reduced our opening hours and it has been busy but nowhere near the level it was with international travel."
Batlow apple grower Greg Mouat said he had got through the harvest despite some challenges, but the farming industry would have to make more changes over the next 12 months.
"Any increase in the availability of labour would assist greatly. There has been a slight shortage up here during this last apple harvest season," Mr Mouat said.
"The picking has gone quite well. We don't appear to have been affected too much but I think that's been more from good management by the labour hire companies...overall, we could have done with another 30 to 50 pickers."
Mr Mouat said the agricultural industry would have to look at issues such as pay rates and accommodation standards if there was a shortage of migrant labour for the next year or more.
"We have just got to be more nimble with the available workforce and we have to make the work not easier but of a type that people want to come and do," he said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said "at least 5 million" of the state's 6 million adults should be vaccinated for coronavirus before considering opening up international borders.
A spokesperson for Charles Sturt University (CSU), when asked about the impact on the Wagga campus, said the institution was "working in partnership with government on a plan for its international students".
Late last year acting vice-chancellor, Professor John Germov said he wanted to ensure that CSU was "sustainable irrespective of whether we have large numbers of international students or not".
Business NSW Murray-Riverina regional manager Anthony McFarlane said that migration falling to "less than half pre-covid levels" was a "concern" to some industries that need "to fill urgent skills gaps".
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