They went from the giddy heights of being one of the state's most significant economic drivers to losing the majority of their clientele due to border restrictions and the halting of interstate and international travel.

However, travel is slowly coming back on the fore, with COVID cases in Tasmania few and far between (fingers crossed it stays that way) the Tasmanian Government is offering financial incentives for Tasmanians to go on holiday.

The travel voucher scheme goes live on Monday, and it will be on a first-in, best-dressed scenario. While Tasmanians are encouraged to holiday at home, it is even more critical they choose to spend locally, and support small businesses, tourism experiences and shops.

That will make sure the dollars stay circulating in Tasmania's economy and isn't siphoned to third-party organisations. And while the travel vouchers are a good incentive for Tasmanians to get out and see their backyard, it will not be a silver bullet to fix the problems faced by the sector.

The longer Tasmania's borders remain closed, the longer the tourism sector faces significant hardship. Despite this, the challenge remains; how to balance the health risks with the economic ones. That has been the difficulty throughout the entire pandemic crisis.

It's not a decision that should or could be made lightly. Premier Peter Gutwein has been applauded for his no-nonsense approach. However, the longer Tasmania appears to be relatively virus-free, the patience of the collective population begins to wear thin.

Tourism advocates have called for a detailed plan for when border restrictions may open, and say more clarity is needed.

Two things are certain - that the virus is not going to go away, and we can't wait for a miracle vaccine to swoop in and save the day. And the other is that we can't keep borders closed indefinitely - we need to find a way to live with COVID, and begin to wake from economic slumber.

Transparency and clear communication is the way forward - it will take courage to take that first step.