Business and tourism industries disappointed by indefinite international border closure

Queensland’s tourism and business industries are crying for a pathway out of pandemic restrictions as comments from Prime Minister Scott Morrison brought disappointment.

Queensland’s tourism and business industries are desperate for a pathway out of pandemic restrictions after comments from Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealing indefinite international border closure.

The Prime Minister said there was not enough evidence on how the current crop vaccines reduced transmission to wind back quarantine, and given the risk aversion of the state premiers he couldn’t be certain things would change even after the vaccine rollout was completed.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland’s senior policy advisor Gus Mandigora responded saying business owners were looking for hope.

“They will be disappointed that the vaccine rollout will not get them back to business as usual,” he said.

Mr Mandigora said indefinite border closures impacted the prices of importing and exporting, and international business relations.

“Queensland is Australia’s second largest exporter so it’s a big part of our economy,” he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he can’t be certain there will be changes to quarantine arrangements once the vaccination program is completed. Pic: Peter Lorimer

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said that business stakeholders wanted a strategy that included a timeline and standardisation of the vaccine rollout and ongoing quarantine arrangements.

Mr Gschwind said tourism and hospitality providers needed the government to devise a strategy beyond closed borders.

“While we respect restrictions have kept us safe during the pandemic, we’re all looking for a pathway out of this,” Mr Gschwind said.

“What is the next step or milestone that we can achieve?

“Even if the timeline needs to be adjusted, we expect the government to outline a strategy.”

Mr Gschwind last week told The Courier-Mail that the industry was already suffering a “dramatic labour and skills shortage” with more than 1300 vacancies for chefs and cooks across the state.

He believes the Prime Minister’s stance on indefinite border closures limited any opportunities to attract international workers and fill the sectors vacancies.

“Businesses are relying on the return of international travellers,” Mr Gschwind said.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind. Picture: Annette Dew

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary at Fig Tree Pocket is one of those businesses and general manager Lyndon Discombe said he had been “holding out” for international tourists.

“This revelation is obviously disappointing. Traditionally we have relied on international tourism for a considerable amount of our visitors and it becomes increasingly difficult the longer we don’t have that influx of visitors,” Mr Discombe said.

“International tourists make up around 70 per cent of our visitors each year so to have that immediately cut-off has been difficult but like all tourist-based operators we have been resilient, flexible, and are trying to reinvent ourselves to capture new and returning visitors from the local area.”

Mr Discombe said the sanctuary was grateful for JobKeeper assistance but needed more support from the state and federal governments to ensure long-term security if there was no time frame for welcoming overseas tourists.

“Financially, the longer border closures and limits on international visitors continues, of course the more difficult it becomes to keep the sanctuary sustainable,” he said.