Hunter Business Chamber has renewed its call for entertainment and hospitality venues to sign up for the government's Dine and Discover voucher program amid fears only a small number have registered.
Service NSW said on Friday that 193 business in Newcastle had registered for the scheme, 103 in Lake Macquarie, 70 in Port Stephens, 63 in Cessnock and 48 in Maitland.
More than 45,000 residents in the Lower Hunter had downloaded the four $25 vouchers, two of which can be used on dine-in meals and the other two at tourism, arts and entertainment businesses.
The Service NSW website showed 34 restaurants and pubs had signed up for the scheme by Friday afternoon in the Newcastle CBD, 18 in Pokolbin, 15 in Cooks Hill, 13 in Kotara, 11 in Hamilton, 14 in Nelson Bay and eight in central Maitland.
The Civic Theatre, cinemas, Oakvale Wildlife Park, Fighter World, Hunter Valley Gardens, vineyards, Beyond Ballooning, Coast XP and a host of other travel and leisure operators were also registered.
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"When we urged local businesses to register a month ago, there was a spike in registrations from our region, but advice we have received from Service NSW this week suggested the sign-up rate had slowed," chamber chief executive officer Bob Hawes said on Friday.
"We know there must be many more eligible businesses than that in the area."
The chamber estimates the scheme will inject about $50 million into the Hunter economy, based on the number of eligible residents across the region.
"Most customers are likely to spend much more than the voucher provides," Mr Hawes said.
He said the vouchers were timely as Hunter businesses faced the end of JobKeeper subsidies next month.
"A recent Business NSW survey of tourism businesses shows the NSW visitor economy is set for massive job losses, cuts to hours for existing staff and businesses permanently closing once the direct financial support provided by JobKeeper ends.
"Up to a third of businesses fear closure, while 42 per cent indicated they are likely to be forced to reduce staff numbers and more than half expect to have to cut hours for existing staff."
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