# Where is everybody? Summer holiday destination deserted! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 24, 2019, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-everybody-summer-holiday-destination-deserted/845329 "2019-12-24T05:00:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-everybody-summer-holiday-destination-deserted/845329/1 "2019-12-24T05:00:59Z")
I’m currently in the northern beaches of Cairns, in far north Qld, Australia, on the Great Barrier Reef. It’s summer here and it’s the major holiday time of the year. Kids have 6 weeks off school, and many businesses close down for at least two weeks and often more. But the place is essentially deserted. Talking to our apartment complex manager today, she claimed that last year she was fully booked at this time, but now only has half the rooms reserved. Same for other accommodations in town. And she has no idea why! It’s not like there has been a natural disaster around here, or that the economy is about to tank (maybe next year but not now). On the plus side, I cruised up to the supermarket and booze shop to get supplies for tomorrow and got a park straight away. Silver linings and all of that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-everybody-summer-holiday-destination-deserted/845329/2 "2019-12-24T05:21:32Z")
Maybe they’re all fighting brush fires in NSW… ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-everybody-summer-holiday-destination-deserted/845329/3 "2019-12-24T05:25:04Z")
Or [can’t afford it](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-28/why-workers-are-getting-the-smallest-pay-rises-since-wwii/10942530)… ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-everybody-summer-holiday-destination-deserted/845329/4 "2019-12-24T05:34:07Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Or [can’t afford it](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-28/why-workers-are-getting-the-smallest-pay-rises-since-wwii/10942530)… Pretty sure Cairns and environs has been a higher-end hol destination for southerners, but wondering whether the Jetstar strike is perhaps having ramifications. If so, the locals are seriously unimpressed. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-everybody-summer-holiday-destination-deserted/845329/5 "2019-12-24T05:36:14Z")
[Just a fair bit of general anxiety, I think.](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/bushfires-cause-retailers-worst-christmas-since-gfc/11824144?section=business) > [@](#): > > Australian retailers are facing their worst Christmas shopping season since the global financial crisis more than a decade ago as fires burn across the country. > > Key points: > The Australian Retailers Association expects Christmas sales to fall short of targets > Chief executive Russell Zimmerman says the smoke haze is keeping shoppers at home > Economists say tax cuts and low interest rates have failed to boost consumer spending > The bushfire crisis has come on top of already weak consumer spending as people save rather than spend their tax and interest rate cuts. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-everybody-summer-holiday-destination-deserted/845329/6 "2019-12-24T05:40:32Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > [Just a fair bit of general anxiety, I think.](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/bushfires-cause-retailers-worst-christmas-since-gfc/11824144?section=business) Ok, that’ll explain it. Shitfuckery all 'round. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-everybody-summer-holiday-destination-deserted/845329/7 "2019-12-24T13:01:57Z")
I wouldnt complain. Anyplace in the US around the Christmas holidays like Disney or ski resorts are all packed. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-everybody-summer-holiday-destination-deserted/845329/8 "2019-12-24T14:07:45Z")
We went to Cairns at Easter last year and loved it. It was just after the dreadful rains and with Tyhpoon Iris hovering offshore and unable to make up her mind. We had 8 days in the area and it coincided with a short period of calm and stability and we managed to get out to the reef (a bit choppy on the way out but never mind). We packed in as much as we could and visited the ancient rainforest and saw platypi in the wild and all sorts of other wonders. The kids thought it was the best thing we’ve ever done and can’t wait to come back. Hopefully they aren’t taking too much of a financial hit at the moment