Coronavirus costing Queensland tourism industry $495 million and growing

Queensland looks set to lose a staggering $495m in missed visitor spending, just from cancelled flights from China and Hong Kong to Brisbane, based on figures released exclusively to The Courier-Mail, with the real total expected to be far, far higher.

QUEENSLAND looks set to lose a staggering $495m in missed visitor spending just from cancelled flights from China and Hong Kong to Brisbane, based on figures released exclusively to The Courier-Mail.

Between February and June, at least 562 inbound flights have been suspended, mostly from mainland China and Hong Kong, Brisbane Airport Corporation revealed.

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That translates to 150,000 inbound seat s that will not carry tourists into Brisbane and Queensland between February and June this year, that would usually include 90,000 high-spending international visitors from China and Hong Kong.

Factoring in Brisbane and Queensland’s slice of the average $8300 spend per Chinese visitor who arrives in Brisbane, that means a massive $495m hit to the economy.

“Brisbane Airport Corporation continues to monitor the situation very closely. With the situation changing daily, it is possible more flight reductions are to come, as the coronavirus spread globally,” BAC boss Gert-Jan de Graaff said.

“BAC is working closely with our airlines, government and industry on future impacts and recovery plans.

People arriving and wearing mask at Brisbane International airport. (AAP Image/Attila Csaszar)

“Brisbane Airport is very serious about our role as the gateway to Queensland for trade and tourism, so we will work with the airlines affected to see their services return to BNE as soon as travel demand returns.

“We will also work with our industry partners here in Queensland and in the passenger source markets to get behind the recovery campaigns and messages to markets.”

Economist Nick Behrens said while the $495M tourism hit would be felt across the state with the international travel bans, he said Queensland had not lost any of its allure for big-spending Chinese tourists and the travel industry would bounce back as soon as the world came to grips with coronavirus.

“This is delayed not cancelled travel,” Mr Behrens, director of Queensland Economic Advocacy Solutions, said.

The Insurance Council of Australia was yesterday recommending holiday-makers buy extra “cold feet” insurance if they were hunting for coronavirus bargains.

Council communications manager Lisa Kable said the “change your mind” extras cover could be added to travel insurance for as little as $16 for a family of four travelling to Europe and would cover 75 per cent of the travel costs if Australians decided against going away in the wake of the spreading coronavirus, but only if purchased within 48 hours of buying tickets or other “major expenses” associated with the holiday .

She also urged travellers to check existing policies purchased for travel after January 20 unlikely to cover the cost of coronavirus medical care.