A lot are already there.

And South Coast businesses will breathe a grateful sigh of relief at the fresh activity. They've done it tough and need those ACT dollars.

But what of Canberra's notorious "ghost town" effect over the summer months? Can we really expect any sudden change to decades of traditional behaviour?

It's highly unlikely. For years the ACT's tourism sector has vacated the post-Christmas-New Year period, with Summernats - which has a narrow but fervent visitor base - as the only big event on.

Nonetheless, the ACT government is poised to roll out an advertising campaign to kickstart consumer activity locally, encouraging us to visit local attractions and there has been considerable pressure from tourism operators to revisit the troubled CBR voucher scheme to set the ball rolling.

It won't happen. That horse has bolted.

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There's a tiny window of pre-Christmas consumer-stimulating opportunity - about six weeks or so - available ahead, and the government knows it.

It really has to make the most of it.

Once the territory rolls past the Yuletide festivities, for those not polishing their cars ahead of Summernats in early January, a collective focus generally turns to leaving town.

The NSW government already has a flying start, kicking off its $200 million "destination" campaign nationally on Sunday.

It will pour cash into a separate fund for its upcoming country shows, which are a common community bonding occasion.

The COVID-19 lockdown should present a wake-up call to ACT Tourism.

Years of stepping away from that January-February local attractions window, fearful few locals will stick around to attend, is now going to turn the dial down for local business when it needs to be turned up.

Fresh summer-focused ideas are needed based around our lakes where everyone can stay cool: water festivals and shows (opera on the lake?), electric foilboard races and even wave-making.

It's not the beach but it's the closest we have to one. Time to make the most of it.

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