Tasmania has long marketed itself as the place for travellers to switch off from the troubles of the world, but tough new border control measures to limit the spread of coronavirus have crushed the state's tourism and hospitality sectors.

Key points: Tasmania has introduced strict self-quarantine for travellers to the state to control coronavirus

Tasmania has introduced strict self-quarantine for travellers to the state to control coronavirus Tourism operators say they've been inundated with cancellations

Tourism operators say they've been inundated with cancellations Business owners are urging Tasmanians to support them in the face of job losses

Now business owners are looking for ways to keep their staff employed and maintain the goodwill of their customers until the pandemic abates.

Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Thursday that almost everyone entering the state would have to self-quarantine for two weeks in a bid to dampen the spread of COVID-19 — a move that was widely supported but tipped to send the state into recession.

Tourism contributes more than $3 billion to Tasmania's economy each year, or about 10 per cent of Gross State Product.

The owner of this Tasmanian accommodation business has had thousands of dollars worth of cancellations this week. ( Facebook: Hobart Hideaway Pods )

Hobart Hideaway Pods owner-operator Claire Corrigan said she processed $10,000 in refunds on the morning Mr Gutwein made his announcement, but that she believed it was the right thing to do.

Now she has offered up her purpose-built accommodation pods free to people who need to self-isolate, with a Tasmanian travelling home from Canada the first to take up her offer.

"In the current situation everyone needs to start thinking about ways in which we can all help the community," Ms Corrigan said.

"At this point in time it's all about the safety of people, and not economics.

"We can look at that second, but first and foremost we need to look after each other, especially the vulnerable in our community."

Ms Corrigan said she was lucky to have the financial security to offer full refunds to anyone cancelling their accommodation, but that some would-be visitors had told her to keep the money, or deferred their trip.

"I think there will be a bounce back," she said.

Bruny Island Cruises may need to close if coronavirus cases increase in Tasmania ( Supplied: Pennicott Wilderness Tours )

Tourism industry stalwart Rob Pennicott said he expected he may have to temporarily close his boat tour business.

"I think there's a good chance we'll be closing for two weeks unless the coronavirus cases in Tasmania decrease to negligible or nothing," he said.

"If [coronavirus cases do] increase by a few in a day for the next couple of days, we'll close the following day.

"If the situation escalates we will close for some time."

He said he remained optimistic.

"At this stage there's a good chance that won't happen, but we do have to plan for what could be a worst case," he said.

Mr Pennicott said he believed business owners should do all they could to support their staff.

"What we are intending to do is get our staff to understand the Government is going to take a big hit; we will take a big hit; the banks will take a big hit; we want our staff to take a hit and see what they need to pay a mortgage and survive," he said.

"We're allowed to put casuals off work, but I think it's important to keep the community of workers with the employer so when we bounce back we've got the staff to do it."

He said businesses should be paid the equivalent of the Jobseeker payment to keep staff on, but warned that that would not be enough.

"I believe that good employers should top up that amount to get [employees] to a point of survival," he said.

Tasmanians urged to explore the state

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Greg Price runs Jump tours, which offers guided trips of up to seven days through Tasmania, with the bulk of his business coming from international travellers.

"For us, the reason we had to essentially suspend things as soon as they closed the borders is we don't have any Tasmanian customers," Mr Price said.

"Up until this point our message to customers has been this is a safe place, it's an island at the end of the world, low risk, low infection rate so keep coming, until this."

Mr Price urged tourists with Tasmanian bookings to postpone instead of cancelling.

And he encouraged Tasmanians to look around their own state throughout winter.

"[The quarantine measures are] probably the best thing to do," he said.

"Down the track it'll probably benefit us because if it comes out with barely any infections it'll reinforce our image as a safe destination."

Many restaurants have taken a hit because of coronavirus. ( ABC News: Lydia Feng )

Launceston hospitality veteran Don Cameron owns Mudbar Restaurant at the city's Seaport precinct, and Blue Cafe at Inveresk.

Mudbar has suffered a 60 to 70 per cent drop in patronage, and Blue Cafe about 50 per cent.

"We will shed staff, and we will shed them by Monday," Mr Cameron said.

"I'm busting out ways to keep them employed and we will do our best."

Like Mr Price, Mr Cameron encouraged Tasmanians to shop locally.

"The hospitality industry here is hanging on by a thread," he said.

"The thread needs to be local support."

Luke Martin from the Tourism Industry Council says business owners are looking how to cut their costs. ( ABC News: Scott Ross )

Luke Martin from the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania said the six-month loan deferrals announced by the Australian Banking Association were a silver lining in a difficult week.

"No-one should underestimate how important this is in giving anxious small business operators peace of mind coming into the weekend," Mr Martin said.

"Everyone's priority one, two and three right now is to urgently reduce or defer outgoings while their revenue has been wiped, in many cases completely."