The Victorian government's border bubble has left some areas of the Riverina effectively banned from entering the state and created an incentive for Wagga residents to stay away.
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Businesses in towns just outside the border bubble have said they are frustrated at being denied potential customers but also saw the chance to cater for new types of visitors.
Residents who live within Wagga City Council's boundaries have been included in the bubble, potentially allowing them to cross the border, but nearby towns like Coolamon and Junee have been put in the same 'red zone' category as Greater Sydney.
The owner of Barty's Cafe in Coolamon, Sue Fifield, said it felt unfair even though the line had to be drawn somewhere.
"It doesn't have an effect on me directly but I know it does for some of the locals in town," she said.
"It's pretty hard that 10 kilometres down the road we'd be in Wagga's shire area and we could travel to Victoria but being here we can't.
"Even if it's just to Wodonga, if you have family in Wodonga you can't get there either."
Ms Fifield said she hoped the Victorian government would review its decision.
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Border bubble residents also risk being blocked from Victoria if they travel north out of the NSW bubble prior to crossing the border.
The owner of Temora's Diamonds and Dust jewellers, cafe and gallery Debbie Davidge said there had been an impact on some days but higher traffic on others since Victoria told its residents to return home last week.
"The border bubble certainly slows down those travellers and my business is quite reliant on those," she said.
Ms Davidge said tourism might increase in the future given that access to Victoria, Sydney and some coastal areas were blocked or discouraged.
"I think it helps us because the travellers will bounce back this way if the border is closed," she said.
"For someone in Wagga, coming back this way would be an easy decision. I have had that many people in from Wagga over the weekend just because they wanted to go for a drive in the beautiful weather."
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