Tourism industry on tenterhooks as lockdown decision looms

Queensland tourism operators are holding their breath over whether Brisbane’s crippling lockdown will be extended, or even spread to the Gold Coast.

Queensland tourism operators are ‘holding their breath’ that Brisbane’s crippling lockdown will be lifted on Thursday as Easter holiday cancellations continue to roll in.

Accommodation houses from Cairns to Coolangatta have already been rocked by thousands of cancellations in an estimated $35 million hit to the already COVID-battered tourism industry.

Uncertainty over whether the lockdown will be extended – and possibly even spread to the Gold Coast – could not have come at a worse time, with the Federal Government’s half-price airfare deal, designed to help rebuild tourism, launching overnight.

Gold Coast Aqua Park staff member Kristian Panagopoulos disappointed by the new Greater Brisbane lockdown. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Everybody is holding their breath,” Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said.

“If things don’t change tomorrow morning, Brisbane (tourism) operators in particular will be in some trouble. The hospitality sector will be in dire straits over Easter.

“Clearly, there have already been thousands of cancellations. It hasn’t just been a lockdown, it’s been a knockdown.”

The Accommodation Association of Australia said that up to 20 per cent of Queensland Easter holiday bookings had been cancelled, costing the tourism industry at least $35 million.

Mr Gschwind said while flight bookings to regions outside Brisbane were ‘hanging in’, accommodation reservations were ‘a little bit shaky’ because many travellers ‘fear uncertainty’.

A man wears a face mask as he walks through an empty Queen Street Mall in Brisbane's CBD. Brisbane has been placed in a three-day lockdown due to a growing Covid cluster. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

He said the tourism industry remained ‘seriously concerned but a little more hopeful’ following positive comments by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said ‘the ship has sailed’ for holiday-makers who had cancelled Easter holidays.

But Gold Coast Mayor said it was ‘business as usual’ so far and urged southerners to ‘take a punt’ and book an Easter holiday on the Glitter Strip, despite lockdown fears.

“I say to all of the people in Sydney and Melbourne, if I’m there wanting to come to the Gold Coast, I would get online and book,” he said.

A masked Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate addresses media. Picture: Greg Stolz

“The weather’s great, there’s no lockdown here, come and enjoy life on the Gold Coast.”

Cr Tate said Rex Airlines was offering $79 one-way flights to the Gold Coast from Melbourne and southerners should ‘take a punt’.

“I would do it if they don’t want to miss out,” he said.

“Mate, life is about taking a risk and having a go – that’s what the Gold Coast is built on.

“I’m saying the risk here is 79 bucks. If you can afford the 79 bucks, I’d have a crack at it. You’re not going to lose it.

“I wouldn’t want to be stuck in Melbourne for Easter …”

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said he was buoyed by the Premier’s positive comments about high testing and low COVID-19 case numbers.

Mr Mills said Gold Coast Airport activity was relatively unaffected by the Brisbane lockdown. “Passenger numbers continued to be high this week, particularly in the key markets of Sydney and Melbourne, with flight schedules maintained throughout the Brisbane lockdown period.

“The Gold Coast remains open, and tourism operators across the region will be looking forward to the influx of visitors. We are still expecting a strong Easter period based on what we have seen this week.

“Flight numbers are still increasing as we head into the weekend and school holidays.”

The Federal Government’s 800,000 half-price flights to destinations including the Gold Coast were expected to be ‘extremely popular’, Mr Mills said.