EVERY day Mildura hostel owners John and Craig George wait patiently by their phones for calls that never come.

This time last year, the pair would field about four calls a day from backpackers keen to stay at one of the two hostels the father-son team co-run.

But John said they hadn't had a call in days.

Of the 75 beds available between the hostels, only six are taken at Mildura Stopover Guest...