Tourism and hospitality businesses seek border clarity once SA reaches vax target

Surging vaccination rates are offering hope that borders will soon reopen – but businesses want more clarity over future travel and quarantine restrictions.

Tourism, hospitality and other local businesses are eagerly awaiting the reopening of borders, but they’re also seeking more clarity around future travel restrictions so they can prepare for the expected economic bounce-back.

The rate of vaccination will be key to the timing of borders reopening, but confusion remains as to who will be allowed to travel and under what quarantine conditions.

In Business SA’s latest Survey of Business Expectations, more than 80 per cent of respondents said local restrictions should be removed once the state hit its 80 per cent vaccination target, while more than 55 per cent believed international travellers should, by that time, be allowed into the country without having to quarantine.

The state government says it is likely some baseline restrictions will remain in place to keep the community safe after the vaccination target is reached, but reiterated South Australians “can expect to celebrate a relatively normal Christmas this year”.

Business SA chief executive Martin Haese said many operators in hard hit industries such as tourism and hospitality were seeking more clarity over future restrictions once borders reopened.

“We are asking our members for their views on vaccination passports and mandatory vaccinations, knowing that further clarity will be needed to ensure businesses can get on with the job as soon as the borders reopen,” he said.

“The reopening of South Australia’s borders is an important issue for many within the business community. Getting vaccination rates up to 80 per cent of the population is the only way we make this happen, and we call on the entire community to play their part.

“The events, tourism and hospitality sectors have been significantly impacted. We’ve got a tremendous international and domestic reputation for premium food and wine here in South Australia. Yet, with interstate and international visitors shut out and restrictions on local capacity, business owners have not been able to do what they do best.”

Dallas Coull, who runs See Adelaide and Beyond, with wife Nikki and daughter Tamsin. He’s urging people to get vaccinated so SA can reopen its borders. Picture: Tom Huntley

Dallas Coull, whose business See Adelaide & Beyond runs bus tours to the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and other local tourist hot spots, said the industry was crying out for more clarity over future restrictions.

“I’m not a medical person and it’s not up to me to give medical advice but I’m looking forward to hitting that 80 per cent vaccination mark, and I’m also looking forward to some clear instructions on what happens when we get there,” he said.

“We know tourism is going to bounce back but we’ve got to make sure that we have a quality product for our customers.

“I think the police commissioner and Nicola Spurrier have done an amazing job but there’s no clarity moving forward. If borders reopen but people still have to quarantine then tourism’s down the gurgler.”

Mr Coull said his business had slipped through the cracks in the financial assistance packages offered to local tourism operators and other businesses, and called on government to provide further financial support.

“From July onwards we’ve been haemorrhaging money and there’s been no assistance from government whatsoever,” he said.

“The only assistance we have received since JobKeeper is a voucher scheme that assists businesses that have actually had record turnovers during these Covid border restrictions. If you operate on wheels like we do there’s no real benefit because local tourists drive themselves.

“We’ve had to take out a loan to keep the business going, and to keep our four guides and another staff member as well because we know things are going to turn around.”

A state government spokesman said the state’s strong Covid response continued to keep South Australians safe and protect local jobs from the harsh lockdowns and restrictions that have been seen elsewhere in Australia.

“When the state achieves a double vaccination rate of 80 per cent, we can safely put an end to the potential of statewide lockdowns and statewide lockouts, which will provide a strong level of confidence for all South Australian businesses,” he said.

“Some baseline restrictions will likely be required to keep our community safe as we transition through the next phase of our Covid management plan but South Australians can expect to celebrate a relatively normal Christmas this year.”

The spokesman said Mr Coull’s business has received $29,000 in cash grants to support their operations during Covid, and nearly $100 million in financial support has been paid to businesses across the state in the past three months alone.