Canberrans should stay home and spend money locally before heading down the coast when NSW restrictions ease, Chief Minister Andrew Barr says.
The NSW government on Wednesday confirmed it would lift bans on travel within the state from June 1, meaning Canberrans are free visit their favourite coastal hotspots from then.
But Mr Barr said he would not encourage people to rush down to the South Coast.
"I'd like Canberra people to spend money locally first," he said.
"But clearly there are Canberrans who own property on the coast and feel they haven't had the opportunity to go down there for some time.
"I'm not encouraging anyone to go, but people shouldn't feel like the worst person in the world if they want to go down the coast.
"There are a lot of local businesses that could do with your support right now."
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Mr Barr said he anticipated travel to Canberra from surrounding NSW regions would pick up once the restrictions were lifted on June 1.
But he said the immediate tourism opportunity for the ACT would come the following weekend, on the Queen's Birthday holiday from June 6-8.
"That gives our tourism operators three weeks' notice, effectively," Mr Barr said.
"Some have indicated they can respond within a week, others have said ... they'd need two, three or four weeks before they'd be ready to open their doors again.
"I would describe it as a cautious first step."
Mr Barr said galleries and museums may be able to open in time for the Queen's Birthday long weekend, with 20-person limits.
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