The Morrison government is preparing to ramp up promotion of Australia on the global stage within weeks as it moves to bolster the tourist industry, which is suffering from plummeting guest numbers because of bushfires and coronavirus.

With the ban on travellers who have spent time in China recently still in place, Tourism Australia could shift focus away in the short term from promotional activities in China and Japan in light of Asian travellers staying at home in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.