Visitors have begun returning to the Omeo Caravan Park following the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions in recent weeks.

Lou and Sandi Beltrame, who run the park, are pleased that visitors are starting to trickle back into Omeo following a devastating year in which bushfires and COVID-19 disrupted life as they knew it.

Mr Beltrame says in recent weeks many people have been arriving in Omeo to check into the park or camp along the river.

“We’ve got 25 vans in at present, there’s a lot of people travelling around who have been cooped up at home for weeks,” he said on Monday.

Mr Beltrame said his food van, which he operates in the park grounds, had been doing a roaring trade.

“For the last four weeks, I’ve been open every night and have been doing some lunches too,” he said.

“On Saturday night, I made 30 pizzas and served in all about 60-70 meals.”

The caravan park recently applied for a grant which facilitates outdoor eating.

Mr Beltrame said if successful, he would put in additional tables and chairs and expand the menu of his popular food van. He said bookings were steadily increasing for Christmas spots in the caravan park and there were “a lot of forward bookings for January”.

Mr Beltrame said it had been busy in the town with Omeo getting its buzz back.

The Beltrames have a lease on the caravan park until June of next year, when they hope to retender for the park.

IMAGE: Lou and Sandi Beltrame in front of their food van at the Omeo Caravan Park. K437-4643