Tweed tourism businesses have experienced an unexpected boom with some retailers reporting best-ever trading results.
Local cafes and restaurants have done a roaring trade over the last few weeks and although business is slowly easing off, owners said they were very happy with the results.
Local caravan parks were packed to the rafters and the more upmarket accommodation providers also reported steady trading.
Retailers in Kingscliff benefitted from ‘erosion tourism’ and experienced an increase in visitors keen to see the damage storms have done to the beach.
However, businesses which rely on the traditional big Christmas-gift spending spree have been disappointed by lacklustre sales.
Retailers at Tweed City said the expected stampede before Christmas and at the Boxing Day sales did not eventuate; however, the situation had not been disastrous either.
Customers focused on gifts for the kids this year and seemed less interested in buying presents for adults, according to one Tweed City retailer.
