The Hunter Business Chamber was quick to let its feelings be known - but Maitland Business Chamber was more guarded.

"Our regional business communities have been doing it tough for some time due to drought, bushfire and the pandemic," Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes said.

"The opening of the regions will help kick-start our economic recovery and be a huge boost for the tourism and hospitality sectors in particular.

"People will be eager to travel after a long period of isolation and our region is perfectly placed for weekender and school holiday visits from Sydney and other major centres."

Maitland Business Chamber chief Judy Brown fears that in the short term people will be "holidaying at home" regardless.

"I think there's still concern out there about the health side," she said.

"Yes, some people will be very keen to get out but a lot will be cautious. I think we really need to sensibly ease restrictions to entice locals out to spend.

"If families want to go out we shouldn't be making them plan it two weeks ahead by making a booking because there's only room for 10 people.

"When that eases I think things will really pick up."

Mr Hawes said Business NSW estimates that about 20,000 jobs have been lost across the Hunter.

"While a number of restrictions remain in place for many of our hospitality and tourism businesses, we expect these to ease and urge the NSW Government to relax restrictions as the risk of virus transmission decreases," he said.