Gold Coast Covid border reopening: Dramatic changes needed for tourism industry to survive

The future of the Gold Coast’s biggest industry is bright, according to an industry expert who says dramatic changes will be needed in the city once borders reopen.

THE future of the Gold Coast’s shattered tourism industry is bright, according to an industry expert who says operators will need to make significant changes to capitalise on a post-Covid world.

University of Queensland tourism expert Associate Professor Judith Mair anticipates industry, worth more than $6 billion pre-Covid, will continue to experience “pain points” in the short term as border closures and the risk of lockdowns remains “all too apparent”.

COURAN COVE: THE INSIDE STORY

$800M MEGA TOWERS TO REPLACE COAST SHOPPING CENTRE

Speaking at a tourism forum on the Gold Coast on Saturday, she said operators would need to adapt to changed circumstances.

“Flexibility with booking and cancellation policies, as well as refunds will be key to give consumers confidence to make bookings, but, once the interstate and international borders are open, I think the future for tourism on the Gold Coast is very positive,” she said.

“The Gold Coast has always been popular with Australians from the southern states, and I see no reason why these traditional visitors wouldn’t return.

INSIDE STORY OF ONCE-ELITE SUBURB’S DOWNFALL

Many Gold Coast hotels sit empty and waiting for tourists to return. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

SHOCK CLOSURE OF POPULAR GOLD COAST BUSINESS

“There will be ups and downs once people get the opportunity to travel overseas – a boost in demand for overseas travel for Australians is likely to lead to a small downturn in domestic travel in the short term, but this should be balanced by the gradual return of the international visitors.”

Assoc Prof Mair said innovation would be needed to give the city an edge going forward.

“There will be several areas where it will be important for the Gold Coast to take the initiative, first of which will be, a widely accepted Covid accreditation for the tourism, hospitality and events sectors which will be important to maintain consumer confidence relating to health and safety,” she said.

‘DISASTROUS’: WHAT WENT WRONG IN EXCLUSIVE COAST SUBURB

The Gold Coast tourism industry is struggling. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Secondly, it will be important to innovate to keep up to date with market trends.

“This might mean changes to the way a tourism product (like a hotel or a visitor attraction) is marketed by recognising new market segments and promotional opportunities using social media.

It comes as Gold Coast tourism leaders welcomed a $70 million boost from the federal government’s previously announced $600 million rescue package.

It includes:

* Grants of up to $4 million for major tourism businesses including theme parks t o remain viable

* Grants of between $15,000 and $50,000 for small, medium and large businesses across the state which have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 70 per cent between July 1 and September 30.

Destination Gold Coast welcomed the funding boost which McPherson Karen Andrews said was designed to keep doors of struggling businesses open.

“It has been devastating to see our hotels, attractions, restaurants and shops suffer through another school holiday period,” she said.

“We know visitors – from Sydney, Melbourne and beyond – will head straight for the Gold Coast when borders re-open.”

GC ‘ABYSS’ IF BORDERS DON’T REOPEN AT 80 PER CENT VACCINATED

A GOLD Coast tourism boss is urging the Queensland Government to stick to a National Cabinet deal to reopen borders once 80 per cent of people are vaccinated for Covid.

Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan’s plea comes as it emerged on Monday Queensland may not reopen to Australia until it hits a 90 per cent vaccination rate.

It’s understood the Queensland Government Cabinet has endorsed the 90 per cent threshold, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and WA refused to sign up to national cabinet’s 80 per cent. Labor insiders are claiming that a 90 per cent threshold is being weighed up.

Despite NSW and Victoria outlining a road map to opening up, based on an 80 per cent double vaccination rate, Queensland is yet to commit to any blueprint going forward, even with the population likely to hit 80 per cent double jabs by December 5.

It’s understood the Queensland Government Cabinet has endorsed the 90 per cent threshold, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and WA refused to sign up to national cabinet’s 80 per cent. Pic Cody Fox

Mr Donovan said sticking to the National Cabinet’s 80 per cent and a roadmap were needed: “I appreciate the Premier’s position by trying to make sure we are safe but critically we really need a roadmap out and the 80 per cent level is key.

“I urge all Gold Coasters to get the jab because it’s the only way out of this economic abyss.”

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young and Ms Palaszczuk have shifted in the past week to the 90 per cent figure as their preferred threshold to opening up. This is despite Queensland having the worst vaccination rates in the country.

Quizzed about the 90 per cent, Ms Palaszczuk said she would rely on the Doherty Institute modelling to determine when borders would reopen – and it was too early to speculate on vaccination threshold rates to determine border reopening.

Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan is urging the Queensland Government to stick to a National Cabinet deal to reopen borders once 80 per cent of people are vaccinated for Covid.

But she expected to have that Doherty modelling within two weeks to guide a decision.

“We are waiting on updates – Doherty institute modelling – in two weeks before we can make those decisions,” she said.

The decision on 90 per cent vaccination rates is being driven by Labor polling which shows Queenslanders don’t want to be opened up if it means a mass Delta variant outbreak, like NSW and Victoria.

The polling makes two key findings. The first is that Queenslanders are angry at the so-called exemptions unit, which is regarded as “heartless’’, for refusing to allow Queenslanders back into the Sunshine State, but it gives special treatment to the wives and girlfriends of footballers.

The key finding, however, is that Queenslanders love their liberty and freedoms, and the fact that coronavirus is under control and that is a key driver in the Palaszczuk Government’s thinking.

Tourism industry leaders are incensed at the prospect of Queensland being closed for the Christmas-New Year holidays.

Originally published as Gold Coast Covid border reopening: Dramatic changes needed for tourism industry to survive