Accommodation providers in South Australia's south-east are experiencing a decline in bookings, despite being unaffected by the harmful algal bloom that has impacted other areas of the state. In Robe, a popular tourist destination, council chief executive Nat Traeger reported a 25 percent drop in booking rates compared to normal levels. She noted that there have been no detections of harmful algae in the region.

"We also know from a council perspective in the month of September, compared to 2024, we were well over 1,000 visitors down in our visitor information centre," Traeger said. She added that in July and August 2025, Robe ranked among the top three towns in Australia for increased visitor spending. "We think that the downturn can only relate to the algal bloom, when the two months before we were on the up and up," she said.

About 30 minutes away, Mark and Rebecca Ireland manage a holiday park in Cape Jaffa, which has also faced challenges, including storm damage to the jetty and the closure of the local marina. Mark Ireland mentioned that misconceptions about the algal bloom have compounded their difficulties. "There's a bit of a pre-conceived notion from a few people that the algae bloom is up here, but it's not," he said. "We do keep telling people the bloom's not here, and fishing is great. Heading into summer, we hope we get a few more bookings start to come in, or it's going to make it a very difficult one."

In Kingston South East, caravan park managers Chris and Tracey Jensen, who took over operations earlier this year, have not seen any cancellations but have received inquiries about the algal bloom. Chris Jensen noted that the state government's Coast is Calling vouchers have been beneficial for the area. "It's getting people in and around the state doing something, instead of gloom and doom," he said. "I think it's a really good incentive from the government. I believe we've had about 50 applicants take up the deal."

With repairs to the Cape Jaffa jetty completed and work underway to clear the marina entrance, Mark Ireland expressed hope for increased bookings as summer approaches. "This time last year the phone was ringing a lot more … but all we can do is hope," he said.

In Robe, the local council is utilizing naturally occurring foam at a local lake to promote the message that the town is free of algae. "Unfortunately, the messaging is statewide and it does impact all of the state's coastline," Traeger said. The South Australian Tourism Commission reported that most booking cancellations have come from travelers within the state.

"Parts of the Limestone Coast are included in the Coast is Calling travel voucher and Dining Cashback programs, which aim to boost visitation and economic activity along our state’s coastline by South Australians," a spokesperson said. A second round of Coast is Calling vouchers will open for registration in December, aiming to further stimulate local tourism.