With events held over the long weekend being punted to later in the year because of the coronavirus pandemic - hotels in the city are feeling the pinch during a time where they would normally see some strong business off the back of tourists visiting the region.

Econo Lodge Griffith Motor Inn owner Robert Kember said while the week of a pubic holiday is usually a bit quieter at the hotel due to their core user-base of sales and corporate body representatives not visiting the city at those times, ahead of this year's Easter long weekend there has been a significant drying up of bookings - estimating a 70 per cent drop from normal times.

"It's always quiet before and after Easter," Mr Kember said.

"Being the furthest town from the cities they [representatives] miss us ... the reps and corporates are our big industry and they've stopped completely - we haven't had any in two weeks.

"All we've got now is the odd doctor and workers doing contract works."

Mr Kember said with events being pushed back from Easter, bookings coming from tourists attending those events have been forced to cancel - with the hotel having no bookings scheduled between Thursday and Monday as of Wednesday afternoon.

"We had a bus in for five nights over Easter which would have been around $20,000 and they've cancelled," Mr Kember said.

"Before this came around we were looking at our best year ever and we've been here five years and the town would have been looking at its best year just by the amount of buses that were coming in.

"The amount of buses we've brought in [to the hotel], we're probably 30 to 40 per cent up on last year - we're probably gaining 25 per cent a year."

With a large amount of uncertainty and regular changes to regulations by the federal and state government to stem the amount of cases in the country, Mr Kember said the hotel was doing the majority of their current business through walk-in bookings.

"No-one is going to pre-book a room because things could change day by day," Mr Kember said.

"We've had one bus already cancel for October because they can't make plans."

The drying up of bookings has forced the hotel to already lay off nine casual workers, as the hotel works to keep the doors open.

Mr Kember said while the landlords have allowed lease payments to be deferred for two months, the hotel might be forced to shut up shop in the next six months if they are unable to cover operating costs.

"Bills are going out but nothing is coming in," Mr Kember said.

"After this week if we can get back to getting 40 per cent to cover costs - that's all you've got to do at the moment to get through."

READ MORE

However, Mr Kember said the pandemic came at a time where tourism to the area was strong and hoped the region could retain that after the pandemic comes to an end and restrictions are lifted.

"As long as it comes back as good as it was here because I think Griffith was starting to boom, especially in a lot of stuff that is getting done tourism-wise," Mr Kember said.

"All you can do is hope."

The state's deputy premier John Barilaro had previously urged all residents of NSW to avoid non-essential travel during the Easter period to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

"Now is not the time to travel from metropolitan areas to regional NSW for a holiday, for meetings, or even to relocate yourselves for a longer period - the safest thing you can do right now is stay in your community," Mr Barilaro said.