Dubbo residents have been urged to support local businesses with the city's tourism industry expected to "take a hit" thanks to COVID-19.
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Events across the region have been cancelled following a government ban on outdoor events with more than 500 people and more than 100 people indoors. Social distancing and isolating has also seen a reduction in people at local cafes and restaurants.
Dubbo Regional Council's manager economic development Josie Howard said residents needed to make a choice.
"As consumers we all have a choice on how we support our local industries and our local businesses," Ms Howard said.
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"We have been encouraging the shop local message for some time now and now more than ever it is so important. Businesses are engaging technology, delivery options, pivoting their business structure to support the changing need of our consumers. And this is a challenging time.
"Support them, that is our message to you."
She said spending money with local businesses would have a flow on effect.
"Remember that your local hospitality business, the butcher, the fresh food grocer, the takeaway shop, your retail outlets, put money into the pockets of local families and that flows through our whole economy," Ms Howard said.
Despite being hit by drought, Ms Howard said the Dubbo region had been fortunate to have economic resilience.
"Due to our strength across many industries, our strong and skilled workforce, our significantly low unemployment, the entrepreneurial spirit of many businesses and an unprecedented level of capital works investment and whilst this means that yes, we do expect to take a hit, overall it will be from a good, strong economic base," she said.
Council has met with all the major tourism operators and bodies in the region to discuss how to continue working in a resourceful and responsible way.
Some operators are making sure they record the contact details of visitors to keep them informed in case of a coronavirus outbreak.
Ms Howard said they were regularly cleaning facilities, practicing social distancing and minimising services that required group congregation.
From council's point of view, social media and its website will still be used to promote the city. Ms Howard said Dubbo would continue to be marketed as a great family holiday destination.
Council's manager corporate image and communications Andrew Parsons said council would continue to evolve and move with the pandemic situation.
"We rely on the community to work with us as we move to an unpredictable tempo driven by a totally invisible threat," Mr Parsons said.