Covid Qld: Queensland tourism industry faces fresh crisis from latest lockdown

Queensland’s shell-shocked tourism industry is facing “the most dire scenario” as operators across the state stare at a lockdown wipe-out, prompting a desperate call for a major change to funding support.

Queensland’s shell-shocked tourism industry is facing “the most dire scenario” as operators across the state stare at a lockdown wipe-out.

Industry leaders have written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison pleading for operators outside lockdown zones to be deemed eligible for disaster payments as millions of dollars worth of holiday bookings go up in smoke.

While much of the state remains in relative freedom, operators in those regions are now sharing the pain of those locked down in the state’s southeast with millions of potential travellers confined to within 10km of their homes.

Police conducting lockdown compliance checks at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Lachie Millard.

There is also growing frustration from operators on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, where strict lockdowns are in place despite the absence of community cases of the coronavirus.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind has written to the Prime Minister and said there would be catastrophic consequences without urgent financial assistance.

“With prolonged and recurring lockdowns in most states and border closures keeping visitors from travelling, almost every tourism or hospitality operator is by now facing the most dire scenario,” he said.

“Our industry is at a standstill for all, regardless of whether a business is in a lockdown area or not”.

On the Sunshine Coast, tourism operators have taken an estimated $45 million hit during the first week of lockdown, with many businesses losing virtually 100 per cent of any revenue.

Ginger Factory Tourism Manager Brenda Bailey at the closed down site as Sunshine Coast businesses suffer due to Brisbane's Cover cluster. Picture: Lachie Millard

Buderim Ginger CEO Andrew Bond said it was getting harder and harder to rebound from constant setbacks.

“The constant open and close directives cause massive disruption and it is almost as costly to re-open as it is to shut the business,” he said.

“Each time this happens it has a flow on effect and the impacts to consumer confidence are longstanding.”

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe joined calls for the Federal government to re-evaluate support measures.

“What tourism operators are experiencing right now is nothing short of heartbreaking because we’ve all put in so much effort into encouraging visitors to holiday in Queensland and support the industry,” he said.

“A lack of any comprehensive JobKeeper-type support from the Federal Government has brought Queensland’s tourism industry to its lowest point since the beginning of the global pandemic.

“It’s past time for the Federal Government to act.”

A spokesman for Federal tourism minister Dan Tehan said disaster payments were available for eligible businesses but did not say whether consideration was being given to include areas outside lockdown zones.