Fuel Crisis Prompts Tourism Concerns 

30 March 2026

Rising concern about the impact of the fuel crisis on local tourism has prompted the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, to urge city residents to continue with their plans to visit regional NSW over the Easter holiday.  

Local tourism operators are reporting a bump in Easter cancellations against a backdrop of lower overall bookings in March this year compared to the same time last year. 

“It’s a tough time for many people who work in tourism,” said Mr Butler.  

“Caravan parks in Broken Hill are reporting a drop in revenue of more than 25%, with management and staff discussing reduced hours. 

“Fewer shifts are available for motel workers around Narrabri too. 

“Tourism businesses and their employees are being squeezed by rising fuel costs on the one hand and declining visitor numbers on the other,” said Mr Butler. 

There has been a lot of media coverage about regional areas running short of fuel, so city residents need to be reassured that they won’t get stuck if they plan ahead. 

“While some individual service stations might run short of some fuels, there is still fuel available across the regions,” said Mr Butler. 

“My message to city residents is – don't cancel your Easter holiday plans because you’re worried about fuel. 

“Use the NSW FuelCheck app to plan your journey and check fuel availability along the way. 

“You’ll create lasting memories while supporting local communities at the same time,” Mr Butler concluded.